Inquisition and Ask a Stupid Question
by Hannah Edge
Inquisition
I’m supposed to be grateful
that instead of being spat at,
I get the Gay inquisition.
These strangers think it’s ok
to ask who’s the man
and who’s the woman.
If I feign ignorance,
or say neither, we’re just “we”,
these strangers think it’s ok
to continue to push.
Who wears the trousers?
Who puts the bin out?
Do you own cats
and what about kids?
If I look offended
at your personal invasion
you touch my shoulder,
say your cousin is gay,
plus at least two
of your Facebook friends.
You insist you’re just curious,
not homophobic, oh no!,
as you ask what my folks said
when I came out, loud and proud.
Ask A Stupid Question
Very gay, but smartly dressed woman
stands under a smoker’s shelter,
toking hard on her cigarette.
Next to her stands a pencil-skirted woman,
long red nails, e cig
emitting a candyfloss scent.
“You don’t mind me asking, do you.
No, of course you don’t.
So what exactly do you do?
I mean, there’s no, you know,
*cough* willy there, is there, so
it’s not real sex.”
Long pause.
No response.
“So, have you ever been with a man?
I mean, how can you know
if you’ve never tried?”
Very gay woman turns
to her new colleague.
“Have you ever been with a woman?
I mean, how can you know
you’re straight
if you’ve never tried?”
Hannah Edge is a 37 year old pansexual, autistic poet based in the Midlands, England. Her poetry and short stories have featured in Girl 2 Girl (a Diva Magazine anthology), Poetry Pool 3, In The Red and Little Giants Magazine. She was shortlisted for the 2019 National Poetry Day #speakyourtruth competition with her poem, Autistic Sensibilities. Her debut collection “Those Days, These Days” is available now from Amazon. Follow Hannah on Twitter @edge_hannah and Instagram @observeandmuse_ehjee
You can also read more of Hannah’s work at www.observemuseedge.wordpress.com