Hiding From Myself — a queer poem
The more one hides from their truth, the less one will learn about their true self.
Running from mirrors
with tarnished glass.
Disfigured from birth,
my reflection lied,
Mocked by biology.
Many years gone by.
Starved for identity,
they said I was,
but I wasn’t,
something about me.
Cloaked in a costume,
a pretense,
defined by the world,
I could not accept,
but wore the mask.
I wanted to live,
live my truth,
wear my truth,
see my truth,
in the mirror and beyond.
Yet not too late!
It was their truth, not mine.
They kept me in the dark,
because I was afraid,
and then I was strong.
It wasn’t the mirror,
and not an opinion.
In my mind,
in my heart,
I knew who I was.
With my truth,
yes mine,
I know who I am!
I can live now,
and hide no more.
Patsy Starke, 5/13/2025