“Coming Out,” New Era, Dec. 1977, 7
Coming Out
Some hatchings hurt:
The cracking
of a hardened
fallacy.
The shatter-crumble
of a bias
bind.
And the new learning
softness
is so very tender.
It’s frightening to be
nothing more
than palest puff
that peeps.
And so remember
and remember
clarion call
to shelter:
“I will gather …
as a hen
gathereth
her chickens
under her wings …”
A place to grow
in strength.