My Poet Laureate

I’ve told you this a thousands times but I wanna tell you why it’s important to me. When you came out in front of everyone at Art Pop three years ago I almost cried. I saw you go up and I cheered but I didn’t know you so afterwards I didn’t go to hug you like everyone else. This was two years before I ever attended a SAGA meeting. I was an ally in name only and watched you get support from so many people. I knew in my heart that I wasn’t just an ally but I also knew that I wasn’t ready to have a label or for people to think of me as anything that wasn’t the same as I had always been. Really I’m still that scared girl who just watched as you were brave and took a leap. To me you had put into words what I had, if I’m being honest, feared in myself. I want you to know this because you have become a very dear friend to me and at least for me that started when I saw you on stage. Completely in your element. Screaming like you were afraid that someone wouldn’t hear you. When I finally attended a SAGA meeting for the first time I was quiet. To me it was a quiet rebellion against myself. I was terrified but I got through it because I knew there were people like you who wouldn’t think of me any differently. I’ll miss you a lot and I’ll miss your poems. You’re one of the bravest people I will ever know and I hope you keep in touch.