PRACTICES, POWER & THE PUBLIC SPHERE: DIALOGICAL SPACES & MULTIPLE MODERNITIES in Asian Contemporary Art 
an online showcase curated by Maya Kóvskaya
 

 

THE OVERTURE

by J.D. Isip

 

 

Straight Guy tells me, “Gay men have it so easy –
It’s all just fucking and see you later, pal
Am I right?”

And I’m of the Larry Kramer school of, “Yeah
that’s about right” (and God knows some fag
is calling the ACLU right now)

He buys us more beer, “I mean, none of this
bullshit we have to do. Women! They want
the whole fucking world

Just to suck your dick.” He drinks, all merry-eyed,
hand on my shoulder, thumb messaging, squeezing,
“I mean, don’t get me wrong

I’m a Pussy Man, hundred percent!”
The word – pussy – wakes me from the beer
momentarily, “But, hey…”

He pulls me in, “I’m not saying I wouldn’t…”
he doesn’t say what he wouldn’t
but it’s enough

Sure, a thought for Laramie or Dahmer
crosses my mind, but hell
no one uses condoms for blow jobs

or even really takes a girl out for a steak
before plunging into her
and losing her number

“You wanna get out of here, pal?” he says
and, to make up for high school
(and maybe lose my life) – “Sure.”

 

 

 

 

 

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