LGBTQ+ Poem: Bull Daggers, by Lauren Perkins

So it’s
1:30pm on a Tuesday and I’m runnin’
For my life
Down Fauntleroy full sprint
Dragging my poor dog behind me
Chased by a man dressed like a pirate
Threatening to beat me up
For no other reason than sometimes
We run out of our perscribed drugs
By the end of the month
And we start takin’ others
When all of a sudden these two
Lesbians swing open the back door of their
Silver subaru yelling
“Get in!” like they’re drivin the fuckin
Getaway car in a heist movie

We look out for each other okay?
The bouncers of the LGBT

Damn girl,
How many keys you got on that carabiner?
I walk around sounding like a goddamn
High school janitor
Got the
Key to the car I abandoned on the hwy
Key to the storage room
Inside of the storage room at work
Key to your straight best
Girlfriend’s heart
Spare key to my best friend’s beat up
‘98 4Runner

We look out for each other
But I look out for me, too

Don’t @ me with those fingernails
It’s Thursday afternoon at the TJs checkout
And you’re sizing me up like you
Think you know what you
Think I’m capable of
Ma’am I’m just bagging your groceries

I look up to see you smile
Tuck your hair behind your ear
Barbie pink acrylics and a
Fistfull of silver rings
Touch my hand n let it linger
As I hand you your receipt
Keep your claws to yourself
You’re not the girl for me

We look out for each other
We look up to each other

It’s 2:45am at an after party
Saturday night circa 2010
Sitting sandwiched between this het couple
The guy talkin bout how he could
Fix me
The girl sayin she’s always wanted to
Try
As if I’m a fuckin suit or something
In need of alterations
When this absolute bull of a dyke sits on the loveseat
Across this ocean of a rug between us
Leans back n pats the cushion next to her
And she talks to me like I fit in somewhere

Just the way I am
She makes me feel
Looked out for