The Room (Poem)

The Room With its spaciousness, invites you. With its tables and chairs, talks to you. With its storage spaces, says, please stay. With its location, says, you are visible. With its mix of different people, inspires and encourages you. The Room is a neat, different, weird place. But, you don’t know The Room. The RoomContinue reading “The Room (Poem)”

Body, Country, and Betrayal: A Poem

Your body will betray you. Without consent or reason, Without preparation or solution, Without fairness or predictability, Pain and tumors will colonize. Ideologies and histories colonize, too. Suffering will reign in the body. Your body will betray you, Until an expiration date suddenly reveals, “Life is over,” And interrupts all. Your body will betray you,Continue reading “Body, Country, and Betrayal: A Poem”

More Queer Studies Class Poems

Everything has been so busy, I almost forgot to share the poems my students in Introduction to Queer Studies wrote this semester–they gave me permission to share them! (Spring 2017 poems are here.) These are the poems they write as an entire class. My contribution is the opening line, “Growing up it was always expected…”Continue reading “More Queer Studies Class Poems”

5th Annual 4th of July Reflection

There is much to be really disappointed and sad about this 4th of July. Hold off on the celebrations until the national assault–chaired by our current president–on minorities and freedom comes to a halt. Instead of a regular reflection, I have provided several poems that provide critical insight into this nation’s sickness. Such artful andContinue reading “5th Annual 4th of July Reflection”

But You’re America. A Poem.

But You’re America.  But you’re America. But you’re America. You have the power to alleviate all pain. But you’re America. You choose to be greedy and selfish. Because you’re America. You laugh and mock when people ask you to be kind. Because you’re America. You refuse to improve and change. Because you’re America. You forgetContinue reading “But You’re America. A Poem.”

Behind a Politician’s Doors, A Poem

Do you ever wonder what really happens behind a politician’s doors? The power enabled by uninformed and short-sided people, The words screamed, whispered, cried, silenced, and deleted, the hopes dashed, the hopes fulfilled, all for their personal gain, of course, fears alleviated, the fears confirmed, the people condemned to die, people made into oligarchs, people deliberately impoverished, theContinue reading “Behind a Politician’s Doors, A Poem”

What are you going to do?

What are you going to do? What are you going to do when ICE comes to your door, demands your papers, and searches your house? What are you going to do when you have some extra time: read, write, protest, or watch what is generally mindless television?  What are you going to do when Trump’sContinue reading “What are you going to do?”

A Look Inside My Introduction to Queer Studies Classes: Poetry and Identity

Today my wonderful students in both sections of Introduction to GLBT Studies (or Queer Studies) at the University of Houston explored various aspects of identity!  We started off by listening to and discussing a variety of performance poems: “Until We Could,” “Lost Voices,” and “For Anyone Who’s Been Told it’s ‘Just a Phase’.” Then weContinue reading “A Look Inside My Introduction to Queer Studies Classes: Poetry and Identity”