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Out​

if i should have a son and one day

he tells me that he’s gay

the first thing i will do is cry because

i never want to be told that

 

i want to learn that my son is gay when

he’s telling me about a boy on his soccer team and

i notice something new and sweet about his smile

 

i want to learn that my son is gay when a

boy from his math class comes over to study and

they end up cuddling on the couch

 

i want to learn that my son is gay at the

supermarket checkout when

he starts flirting with the boy bagging our groceries

 

i want to learn that my son is gay when

the boy from the skate park arrives on our doorstep

with flowers

 

i want to learn that my son is gay when he walks into the kitchen

holding a boy’s hand and tells me how

they met at a friend’s place

 

if i should have a child and one day they

leave the house unsure if they will be welcome back

a tear stained letter left for me to find

ask if i can still love them

think that who they are or who they love is

news that must be gently

gently broken

then the first thing i will do 

is apologize

​

© 2025 by Erin J Doyle

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