A PERFECT STRANGER

Linda Crate

"hey, queer girl"
you said;
but as soon as you
launched those words of war
my helpfulness toward you
and my willingness to help faded away
like dying stars—
queer girl has become
my anthem
i am a queen and i won't be reduced
to tears or anger because of someone
who refuses to understand,
you may think yourself funny;
but i am laughing at you not with you
you've made yourself a joke—
if you cannot play nicely
you will never know the magic of
a rainbow heart nor all the joy they can bring;
& quite honestly i don't think you deserve it
considering you decided to be condescending and rude
to a perfect stranger.