How old were you
when you first realized what
the term
'attracted'
meant?

Teacher taught about magnetism
and gravity,
the earth is attracted to the sun,
north poles are attracted to south.

Boys are attracted to girls.
and vice versa.

How old were you
when you first heard the word
'queer'?
And twittered in the school-yard
because old-timey people used the word
'gay'
as in: 'We had a gay old time at the regatta'.

How old were you when you first noticed
the curves of your Barbie?
The unrealistic, yet attractive way (attractive? whats attractive anyway?)
her top half stuck out, the slim movement of her thighs
down into a perfectly pointed foot.
What could you do if you only had two dolls? What romance could you make with that?
Would you just have to make do?

How old were you
when your best friend became a part of your solar system?
Gravity pulling you towards her,
Society pulling you away.

That makes what we call Stasis.
A hovering.
Suspension.

How old were you
when the universe dissolved and gravity let loose,
and now you were free to kareem throughout
from here to there, retrograde if you pleased,
eclipse if you pleased,
and know what you meant by 'attracted'.

01/22/2009

Posted on 01/22/2009
Copyright © 2025 Vikki Owens