From the PFLAG-Talk/TGS-PFLAG Virtual Library

Poetry for PFLAG Newsletters #2

For a Little While by Bob Benow New York City PLFAG "I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine, " He said. For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he is dead. It may be 6 or 7 years, or 32 or 33, but will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me? He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and shall his stay be brief, You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, as all from earth return. but there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've looked the whole world over in my search for teachers true, And from the throngs that crowd life's lane. I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love... not think the labor vain? Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again? I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done. For all the joy this child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shower him with tenderness, and love him while we may. And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay. And should the Angels call for him much sooner than we planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

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Because: Gay and Lesbian Studies 101 by Mark Belletini Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church And so one of the members of the search committee asks me " But why do you people " he really said that, " you people " " have to talk about it ? " Right. Well , because: Because, if I fell in love, you know, with sonnets and everything, and wanted to name all the stars of heaven one at a time with a goofy smile on my face I'd like to be able to. Because, if I didn't fall in love, I'd like to grouse a bit, or work up a bitter Theory to explain it. Because, if my lover got run over by a drunk driver (it happens, you know, remember blue-eyed Stewart?) I'd like to be able to take a few days off work to cry and stuff, OK? Because, if my partner-in-life whom I can't really legally marry because it upsets somone's stomach or something suddenly developed an infection and got Job's sores all over his body and had to go to the hospital (you know, just like my friend Stephen) I'd like to take him there and hold his hand for a few days and still get paid on family emergency leave so I could eat food and pay rent and all. Because if my lover left me after fifteen years I'd like to be able to sob without consolation and feel suitable depressions and not have to smile a lot and pretend to be stunned for months. Because lying all the time is still wrong, isn't it? Oh, and because, whether you believe it or not, my life is just as important to me as yours is to you.