In a College Hill Bar
over the clatter
of a wobbly table,
I heard a voice
whisper gently,
“faggot” –
over the woozy
word in my ear,
I couldn’t decide –
is it any better
softer than harsh?
over the queerness
of my questioning,
there came a face,
smiling not sneering,
loyal not vicious –
over the weirdness
of the world I inhabit,
faggot is fragrant
if you look deep enough
Andrej Bilovsky (he/him) is a poet and performance artist. Former editor of Masculine-Feminine and Kapesnik. His poetry can be found at the Quiver and Down In The Dirt.