LGBTQ+ Poem: A Mutual Thing, by Leah Johnson

A Mutual thing,
just scrolling on the app, then I found him,
hesitation runs rampant,
but that first date sparks flew.

So much in common, but also not,
Legos, Star Wars, adventures, common.
Guns, anniversaries, planning,
remembering flowers and favorites, not.

There is love sometimes,
that stomach gurgling,
and anxiety-breathing kind of feeling,
the kind that knocks you off your feet.

Other times the kind of love is known,
out of convenience, wrapped in lavender,
to get our parents off our backs
because they think we’re someone else.

There are things that I don’t like,
things that I push through,
I don’t think I can change them,
I’m scared of change anyway.

Too much anxiety and dread creeping up,
in the end we decided, it was,
A mutual thing.