LOVE IS ALIVE
They hold hands in private
They “kiss in a shadow”
They go separate ways for
family functions, from
weddings to Christmas.
They always stay home
each Thanksgiving, sharing
bountiful blessings with
friends, more their real
family than relatives
(except Aunt Sandy and
Uncle Lou, who always bring
sweet potatoes and hugs).
They’ve been beaten bloody
for daring to share a
peck on the cheek in the park.
They can tell you all about
Stonewall because they were
there. They met in Harvey’s
Castro District and clicked.
They are part of a generation
of gay men, closet doors open
only to their neighbors, friends.
To families, pastors, and former
classmates, they’re just two guys
who never found the right girl
and sharing a house saved money
in the long run.
Forty years of keeping a lid
on their love.
(For John and Tony, RIP)
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
This was so well done, Amy. Thank you for loving all today! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, you are an inspiration. Thanks for all the encouragement during this interesting time in my life!
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh so beautiful and sad. The upside being that they had forty years of loving each other. Thank God or Goddess (or both!) for that! Lovely poem. So sad.
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, forty years of love.. in which they could not do things we take for granted, like hold hands in the grocery store… visit in the E.R…. just such a shame more straight folks don’t see the inherent unfairness of today’s laws. And if gays and lesbians are subject to “don’t let them marry” referenda, does that mean, by logical deduction, that the only thing holding them back is the “he” and “she” on the forms at City Hall@
As for God, I think the Creator is beyond gender, but there is no pronoun I can find for unassigned gender. And besides, everyone knew who Jesus’ MOM was, so Jesus’ only way of explaining his connection was to call God “Father…” Oh, don’t get me started, LOL! God, Goddess, Creator, whoever – thank you for folks like Sherry, amen. Amy
uponthewingsofnight
It is a real shame that many straight people don’t see what you and I see, Amy…many instances of gay couples who love each other and who are committed to each other. My brother-in-law is married to a really cool guy and has been for many years. I don’t think of them any differently than any other couple.
clarioretenebris
Years of keeping the love secret. Time to lose the secret, never time to lose the love. Good poem.