Over the past few months, I’ve been involved with a project with UoN LGBT+ Voices. Together with poet Maya Ruhinda, we put together a small booklet of poetry and illustrations. Here’s a selection of Maya’s poems and my illustrations. A limited number of booklets are available for a small donation to Equation Nottingham. If you’d like one, get in touch with either me or the folks at LGBT+ Voices.
i’m not really happy
every night i used to wash my face with soapy water
splash splash splash
the smile from my face
because i am in love with you
and you are not in love with me
there is something about not going in
there is something about
walking past a gay bar
and not going
in
that treds lightly upon
my little gay heart
with a sturdy wellington boot
so i go home
gentle
for me when i am
in love i am a nicer
soul
i would stroke the strands
of hair on her head to sleep
softly. soundly i
would hold her, embrace
her, feel her naked body
cloaked in the fluffy
white dressing gown she
would wear never did i picture
letting her go
she would flood my whole
existence with the kindness
of a mother,
gentle
internalised homophobia
that afternoon i
had sat by the pond and let
it rain on me i
prayed for more rain i
needed to feel clean and to
forget what happened
i had had sex with a girl
Allie likes art... 