KarMel Scholarship 2005

“Political Reality, and Why it’s Okay to Be Angry”

By Katie Aase

Desciption of Submission: “Written after the bitnick stylings of Alix Olsen. This poem is meant to be performed instead of read, but I think it stands on it’s own as well.” - Katie

You’ve come so far, you’ve come so far, look at where you are,

and where you could have been.

So keep quiet, and pass

keep my eyes on my feet, stay on my side of the street

because the grass isn’t any greener on theirs.

Its not us verses them, there is no division,

but I have to hold rigid boundaries with silent precision.

If I step out a line I know I’ll get struck,

and I should accept it because of who I like to fuck.

I’ve learned how to pass, how to get by,

I’ve learned how to hide, how to stay alive.

But bullshit is bullshit, lets call a spade a spade,

I think its time someone rained on this heterosexual parade.

Because we’re here, we’re in the system,

and not every fag has a stereotype that fits them.

So we’re not so visible to the heterosexual majority,

but I refuse to be a silent minority.

I am speaking out.

I am lashing out.

I am coming out.

I am stepping out of line.

Because its time I claimed my sexuality as mine.

I don’t mind heterosexuals if they do it in private,

maybe they’d be homosexual if they just tried it.

I am angry, and its okay

because we have to fight by means necessary to keep our rights.

I am done picking an choosing my fights.

I am taking the world on, taking it to the ring,

because this movement needs a face and I am ready to step up

until someone takes my place.

I will not be silent, I will not pass

because eventually there will be someone coming up behind me on the path.

And maybe, when I’m done,

it will be steady

and even.

And maybe when I’m done there won’t be a reason.

because maybe after my silence has been broken, I won’t just be a token

minority,

and I’ll be seen and I’ll have rights,

And they’ll be no need to propagate this fight.

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