How many queer people are true romantics? How many of us are partial romantics? You know, the ones who can go “aww” when they see something cute? But also hope that someone sees you and did the same? This is why Language, stories, and poetry are important to people. They have a way to make you feel all sorts of things.
Words have the power to transfer feelings. And this is why we need more and more people vested in speaking out their truths. And poetry has always been a powerful tool to make it happen. So if you have something queer to say, (pun intended) here’s a list of poetry that we know you will love. From short poems with just four lines to spoken poetry, we’ve got it all.
Beginning right from the home base. This beautiful and simplistic piece by Jidnya Sujata has over eight thousand views on YouTube.
Here’s a snippet:
Q stands for Queer, an umbrella term for all the brave souls rebelling against the society, and the gender and the sexual rules we’ve been taught to follow
In layman’s terms, this Q stands for all the “Kyun (why), Kya (what), Kaise (how), and Kuch Bhi (whatever) that you use as a patent reply for everyone who loves the rainbow.
Light Chaser
This creatively done piece was hiding amidst a list of amazing poetry about LGBTQ+ The reason why it is so stunning can be traced to its stark clarity in thought and the amazing sense of palpability. Queer or not, everyone has had to face their own share of issues where they have felt vulnerable and unprotected. From the page Community of Poetry, a poem about being gay.
A personal favorite that is neither happy nor sad, this piece by Sarah Herrin reflects the daily dilemmas that come with being bisexual. Addressing the sticky label of being greedy, and feeling rejected by both the teams, being bisexual is like the tug of war where you lose one part and win the other.
This performance poetry by Prachee Mashru resonates the daily questions and doubts people pose to every member of the LGBTQ+ community. She also poses important questions that everyone is thinking but is tired of making the effort to answer each time. The piece is also tied up neatly in the end.
Quick Read
No, they don’t bite… no aunty, they aren’t Satan Worshippers, no they won’t force your child into being gay, no they won’t come live in your closet, no pink and purple doesn’t look gay on you
How can you classify homosexuals as being different from us, when we classify ourselves as Heterosexuals and hetero means different
Say #pride without the hashtag because it is not a trend. Pride.
The Reason For a Heart
How many of us have been told what we do and who we love, makes us a sinner? How many times have religious beliefs affected and restricted the way we live and the freedom we have? This poem reflects the thoughts a queer person has every time the word “God” is dropped into a conversation.
Personal, important, and vivid. Main Insaan which translates to “I’m human” is a piece that we would be chanting if it weren’t comfortably enveloped in Hindi. The speaker Rahul Solanki, discusses how the third gender and the “others” option does not even begin to comprehend him as a person.
Bits of the poetry:
Mein, mera naam, mere naam se aapko kuch khaas farak nahi padega kyunki aap logo ne mujhe pehle se hi kuch naam de diya hai.
I, My name, My name does not make any difference to you, because you have already given me some names beforehand.
Mein Insaan, Naam Rahul, umr 20 saal, jaathi Rajput, Dharm, Hindu, shok, kavithaayen likhna, lipstick lagana, khud ke pasand se thayaar hona
I’m human, Name Rahul, age 20 years, caste Rajput, Religion Hindu, Hobbies, writing poetry, wearing lipstick, dressing as I wish.
After listening to this, do you also feel extremely understood?
Worrying Identities
Identity. If the word does not raise multiple questions in your head, or make you anxious, you are clearly one of the lucky ones. The debates about gender identity and sexual orientation are the source of chaos and conditioning in the lives of the queers. And this piece explains just that.
You don’t look gay, you don’t seem gay. Are you sure you are gay? I’m sure it’s a phase. Maybe you haven’t been satisfied properly by someone from the opposite sex.
Who decides if someone is gay enough? Queer enough? Straight enough? When will we ever stop imposing these ridiculous expectations on people?
To conclude, poetry can be a great tool of expression and mutual understanding. These pieces are evidence that there is a virtual community built through language and solidarity. Solidarity that arises from being oppressed for long enough.
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Vaishnavi
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