Growing Up

Growing up

I had three older brothers

Naturally

I was washed into the norm  

Of repeating after them

“That’s so gay”

“You’re so gay”

“They’re so gay”

They would say

Countless times again

And at this time being only but 6 or 7

I was confused

And would ask myself questions

Why was this an insult?

Doesn’t gay equal happy?

Why is it taken as an offense?

At times I was confused

Being 13

14

I was learning

To memorize the definition of

Gay

Gay (adj): being attracted to the same sex as you

And comparing this to the definition of

Love

Love (n): a deep feeling of affection

And asking myself if I fit into these definitions

What would I do if I fit into these definitions

Because

I was taught

Growing up-

You taught me-

That a man and a woman

Together

Was right

And that a man and a man

or a woman and a woman

Was against the norm

I was in 9th grade

My first year

of high school

When I met her

She

She was beautiful

What became a best friend

Became my first kiss