YA LGBT Books discussion
Tales told - a.k.a free reads
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September Writing Prompt #2--Tears of A Clown?--STORIES WANTED!
Saved for story linksDarren--poem--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Darren--Voice of the Clown--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Melvin--Mirror....Mirror--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Alex--poem--https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This could be interesting... possibly intense.A couple extra links stored here till Sammy is feeling better
Darren - poem 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Riina - story - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Kaje wrote: "This could be interesting... possibly intense."I so agree!
Come here, I do not have a clothBut my thumbs and some spit will do the trick
Don't cry, it's always the same, right?
This is what they ask
This is what they get
They always get what they want
We have not been ourselves for so long
That we have forgotten to be us
Almost
But not completely
Oh, never completely
As long as you're with me we exist
We are boys, we should stick together
Come here with your mouth
I'll kiss it better
Much better
Right? I'll hold you and rock you
And wipe down your tears with my thumbs
One day we'll be free, be together
Until that day we are their clowns
On the outside
Only the outside
Inside we are free, always have been
A freedom so deep they can't reach it
Darren
Sammy Goode wrote: "Beautiful, Darren."Thank you, Sammy.
Darren wrote: "Come here, I do not have a clothBut my thumbs and some spit will do the trick
Don't cry, it's always the same, right?
This is what they ask
This is what they get
They always get what they want
We..."
That is beautiful, Darren.
Darren wrote: "Come here, I do not have a clothBut my thumbs and some spit will do the trick
Don't cry, it's always the same, right?
This is what they ask
This is what they get
They always get what they want
We..."
That is so beautiful Darren. Think u made me cry.
I hope they are tears with hope in them, Fay... Hugs!And thank you :)
Wonderful and hopeful, thank you Darren.
Darren wrote: "Come here, I do not have a clothBut my thumbs and some spit will do the trick
Don't cry, it's always the same, right?
This is what they ask
This is what they get
They always get what they want
We..."
Aw, to comfort and console is such a beautiful thing to see. We all expect it, but often overlook that role in a loving partner. Thanks for sharing Darren.
Kaje wrote: "Wonderful and hopeful, thank you Darren."Thank you, Kaje :)
For years I've suffered from MDD (Major Depressive Disorder). When I look at this face, a clown crying, that's what I see. The rates of depression among lgbt individuals are far higher than that of others. The following is from the book Depression and Back:--------------------------------------------------------
I used to be a blanket without seems -
a silk cocoon
of happy dreams
Now I'm a quilt
no square the same
a patchwork
of pleasure and pain
-Susan Polis Schutz
--------------------------------------------------------
*If you are currently suffering from depression or having thoughts of hopelessness, don't be afraid to reach out, you can find some resources listed here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Kaje wrote: "This could be interesting... possibly intense."Yes, I'm excited for this prompt. This one had my vote and I bet we'll see some goodies for it!
Jason wrote: "For years I've suffered from MDD (Major Depressive Disorder). When I look at this face, a clown crying, that's what I see. "Jason, I am a fellow sufferer.[deleted the rest]
Have you read "the noonday demon" by the way?
VOICE OF THE CLOWNHere I am, a clown, night after night
I make them laugh, applaud, smile
With my pantomime, dumb show
They think it's an act
That after the show I go back to my real self
What if they knew there is no me?
What they see is what they get?
A long time ago I have decided to become
what everyone already thought I was
A clown
To them I was nothing but a clown anyway
Jittery, jumpy, twitching and stuttering
Gay and small and vulnerable
What I would like
What I would really like?
For you to see right through me
right into my heart, and kiss me?
Hear my voice and have patience
let me speak my words
of humanity, of being human
Make me feel human again?
Wrap your arms around this
small twitching frame
And hold me.
Darren
Darren wrote: "Jason wrote: "For years I've suffered from MDD (Major Depressive Disorder). When I look at this face, a clown crying, that's what I see. "Jason, I am a fellow sufferer. For me there is a relation..."
Yeah, I read The Noonday Demon several years ago. Without a doubt, it's the best book I've read on the subject. Very comprehensive.
Darren wrote: "VOICE OF THE CLOWNHere I am, a clown, night after night
I make them laugh, applaud, smile
With my pantomime, dumb show
They think it's an act
That after the show I go back to my real self
What if..."
I think that speaks to the heart of the boy in the picture. Thanks for sharing, Darren.
Darren wrote: "VOICE OF THE CLOWNHere I am, a clown, night after night
I make them laugh, applaud, smile
With my pantomime, dumb show
They think it's an act
That after the show I go back to my real self
What if..."
To be misunderstood can be frustrating sometimes, can totally relate to that one. Thanks for sharing.
"Mirror"........."Mirror"Heavy Sigh
"You only show me; him. But he isn't me. This guy he's handsome; he's amazing. If I were me, The REAL ME, I'd probably date him. This has to be a borrowed suit. My soul is trapped in here ,confused about the extra equipment and the baritone voice. My hair is short, Lips are full, my eyes are beautiful ,but they show my sorrow; my need to at least look like me. So I try to compensate, but these powders , colors, fragrances just make me feel bad that I am trying to correct a guy that's already perfect...."
Welcome to my(our) daily routine for almost 10 years now.
Melvin, I just want to hug you! This is raw and beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Melvin wrote: ""Mirror"........."Mirror"Heavy Sigh
"You only show me ;him.But he isn't me.This guy he's handsome;he's amazing. If I were me, The REAL ME, I'd probably date him. This has to be a borrowed suit. M..."
Wow, just wow Melvin. What a touching view of gender reflection. Thanks for sharing. <3
Melvin wrote: ""Mirror"........."Mirror"Heavy Sigh
"You only show me ;him.But he isn't me.This guy he's handsome;he's amazing. If I were me, The REAL ME, I'd probably date him. This has to be a borrowed suit. M..."
Wow, Melvin! That's great. I think you just made that picture talk. Thanks for sharing this.
Darren wrote: "Come here, I do not have a clothBut my thumbs and some spit will do the trick
Don't cry, it's always the same, right?
This is what they ask
This is what they get
They always get what they want
We..."
This is a sad one but comforting too. You can see the love even through the sadness. <3
Thank you so much Jason, Mel, Darren I truly appreciate it .
You wanted love as an escapeHe wore his heart out on his sleeve
You approached him with a smile
Kissed him on New Year’s Eve
“New year, new you”
At least that’s what they say
But you couldn’t follow through
And you left him the next day
Your actions he took to heart
Feeling unwanted out of habit
A relationship you wouldn’t start
The fox always kills the rabbit
The boy cried himself the sea
And as a shark you tried to hide
But a human was all you could be
And so you struggled against the tide
He’ll dry his tears, he’ll be okay
Just as you try to stay afloat
Now it’s his turn to go away
And you don’t get a lifeboat
the end
Alex wrote: "You wanted love as an escapeHe wore his heart out on his sleeve
You approached him with a smile
Kissed him on New Year’s Eve
“New year, new you”
At least that’s what they say
But you couldn’t fol..."
That is wonderful, Alex. Thank you so much for sharing this.
you're welcome, Mel, thanks for your comment (:
Alex wrote: "You wanted love as an escapeHe wore his heart out on his sleeve
You approached him with a smile
Kissed him on New Year’s Eve
“New year, new you”
At least that’s what they say
But you couldn’t fol..."
This was very cool--I love the imagery you evoke with your words and phrases, Alex. Thanks for sharing.
Alex wrote: "You wanted love as an escapeHe wore his heart out on his sleeve
You approached him with a smile
Kissed him on New Year’s Eve
“New year, new you”
At least that’s what they say
But you couldn’t fol..."
I loved that one as well Alex. Thank you for sharing.
Will you just hold me?Not say a word, but hold me?
Open your arms and hold me?
Just close your mouth
and be silent?
Tonight the world collapsed
and fell on top of me
Tonight the cage opened
and I tumbled out
Tonight the cage opened
and all in me came out
So hold me and be quiet
I don't know who I am
I am a joke, I am nothing
Please be nice to me
And just hold me?
Tonight I realised
This cannot go on
Tonight I made the decision
I will go away
Tonight I am asking you
Come with me?
I wash the fake I am
from my face
I wash off all that I am not
from my being
I erase what they made me
from my existence
Tonight my eyes opened
And all I saw was fear
Tonight was the last night
I swear
So hold me tight
And run with me
NOW!
Darren wrote: "Will you just hold me?Not say a word, but hold me?
Open your arms and hold me?
Just close your mouth
and be silent?
Tonight the world collapsed
and fell on top of me
Tonight the cage opened
and I..."
That is so powerful, Darren. Such raw emotion. We've had some really terrific writings on this picture.
That is truly so gutting emotionally--you can feel the pain and need in every stanza. Thank you for sharing it with us, Darren.
Thank you so so much, SammyThank you ALL so much for all the encouragement you are always giving me. You all are truly awesome :) <3
Alex wrote: "You wanted love as an escapeHe wore his heart out on his sleeve
You approached him with a smile
Kissed him on New Year’s Eve..."
Great emotional images there Alex, thanks for writing for us!
Darren wrote: "Will you just hold me?Not say a word, but hold me?
Open your arms and hold me?
Just close your mouth
and be silent?
..."
((hugs)) your poems always have a resonance, lovely work.
Darren wrote: "Will you just hold me?Not say a word, but hold me?
Open your arms and hold me?
Just close your mouth
and be silent?
Tonight the world collapsed
and fell on top of me
Tonight the cage opened
and I..."
Beautiful Darren, thank you for sharing.
Darren you words are so raw and real ❤️ Thank you for sharing!
give us your fiction - anything from haiku to novel. (Just keep it YA-appropriate, and something LGBTQ.) - if you need more than one comment box for work over about 2,000 words, feel free to reserve sequential boxes, then go back and edit in the sections. And do mark the end of your story with a symbol (like ### or "end") so we know when comments can begin. Have fun!!