Lesbian.
Phonetically, not especially endowed.
More blunt than tactful, really.
Strong, though, and solid as a rock
With a permanent feel about it.
This is no word to fool around with
And no slapped on description.
No, this is an “I Am” word
A word of existence, of being, of defining.
Other words, they come and go on my lips
Carelessly borrowed and easily lost.
But to say “I am a lesbian”
That is a much harder line to cross.
Lesbian
It stands out alone, defiant and defining.
I reject it first, ugly I say, confining
But when no ones looking, I steal a glance.
Despite myself, I venture closer,
And give it an experimental taste.
L-E-S-bbbiiiaaannn
Maybe somewhere between the L and the N
I see my reflection.
No one notices and I try again.
Llleeezzzbbbiiiaaannn.
This time I’m sure I find
Myself right where the Z meets the B.
Lesbian.
I’m ready now to claim it.
But I don’t think that I can tame it.
There’s a fierceness in its bluntness
And a roughness in its beauty.
It gives a welcome with a warning.
And a promise with a burden.
It has too much pride too hide
So I’ll have to fight its battles
And bear its scars upon my body.
Lesbian
The rewards though, are great
For this word that I take and this choice that I make.
To stand hand in hand with my sisters,
Together in love a wall against hate.
To find the courage to live open and proud
And to say who I am, say it out loud.
I love women; the sweet kiss of their lips
The grace of their walk and the sway of their hips.
The curve of their breasts and the strength of their thighs
I am proud to be a woman loving women:
Friends and sisters, mothers, and lovers and I.
This is my story, this is my life.
And so I come to an end and extend to you my friends
A welcome to the world of lesbian.