Dodging the Small Town Rugby Boys in 1987 by Kathryn Anna Marshall

after Gwendolyn Brookes

We slink in black. We cool

their glances, throw off school

borne shackles, we lurk

in corners, our own dark booth, late

night lechers are more afraid. We

black our eyes, before they strike

we blur the lines, are we really straight?

We chant and cackle, wail and sing

immerse our hearts and souls in sin

church ladies worry at their daughter's loss. We

burrow down, in black and thin

lace gloves, thick dark tights, each cup of gin

emboldens rights. We

bathe in goth, post punk, dark wave, jazz

wear black jumpers in June,

united in non-conformity. We

will grow up,some will let this die

others' moment will be here. Soon.

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Kathryn Anna Marshall is a writer based in Shropshire. She has work published or forthcoming in Mslexia, Popshot Quarterly and Dawntreader, as well as online at places like Words for the Wild and Nine Muses Poetry. She was longlisted for the 2020 Paper Swans Press single poem competition and recently published Yes to Tigers, an illustrated poetry zine inspired by her time as poet in residence for Secret Severn Art Trail. Twitter: @KathrynAnna_x