By Debbie Cutler
PROMPT — I will not rest until ...
He came out as a man
to perform in front of a crowd
of those seeking inclusion
all eyes upon him
in his plain jeans and brown t-shirt.
He looked at the floor
and walked, not danced,
across the stage
uncomfortable in his steps.
I felt his fear
the sting
of being different
not accepted
in worlds beyond this room.
He grabbed dollars quickly
tossed them on the table of a friend
then quit abruptly
ran backstage.
The gorgeous host
dressed to please
shouted “I’m so beautiful”
then described her own pains
her life, age four
with a grandma who said
she could not eat unless
she accepted Jesus
as Lord and Savior.
She stood tall in her sexy dress
shouted out against the church
which shunned their kind
(but not Jesus – “Jesus is cool”)
and cursed the right-wing government
that didn’t accept them
in a free country
that is not really free.
Debbie Cutler, a writer of more than 30 years, has been published in numerous mainstream and literary magazines, including Cirque, Wingless Dreamer, Journal of Expressive Writing, The Dewdrop, Pure Slush, Shanti Arts (Still Point Arts Quarterly), Sweetycat Press, The MockingOwl Roost, Prime, Of Rust and Glass, Paddler Press. Columbia Business Times, Editor and Publisher, Independent Living, Wanderlust, among others. She worked at the University of Missouri, writing for seven departments in the College of Arts and Science though will retired in July, 2022. She was also the former managing editor of Alaska Business and former editor of Alaska magazine. Debbie writes from Columbia, MO.
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