We Disappear

WE DISAPPEAR:
LESBOS IN KANSAS

—for Vina Hillerman, Mildred Kaff
and Elsie Pine
_________________

“The little girls who found the body
of the missing boy were not angels,
although that is how the newspaper
described them, the following morning,
beneath the headline. They had no
haloes or transparent wings. They
had no heavenly warmth or sweet,
scarless faces kissed individually by
God.”—Scott Heim, WE DISAPPEAR
_______________

They found me there in Emporia—
Vina, Mildred and Elsie Pine

They were my Lesbos Mentors—
my Glinda Fairy Godmothers
______________

They took me under their wing—
made me aware of myself

Protected me from the bullies—
encouraged the gay spark
_______________

Knowing that little Emporia—
was no Athens of the Midwest

It was just a Santa Fe Cowtown—
out in the middle of nowhere
_____________

Not the place, honey, for nelly—
little cowboys like yours truly

Straight outta little Emporia—
Escape from the Flyover State!!!