MEETING KEN

[dadio]

Come over and meet Ken
Brian said he used to be

a clergyman but he’s retired now
and I’m his house keeper

and he looked at you
with his big brown eyes

and you said
ok and so you went with Brian

and he drove
for miles and miles

until you arrived
outside this large house

and he took you in
and introduced you

to Ken who was sitting
in an armchair

and Brian went out
to the kitchen

to make drinks
and Ken placed

his thin hand
on your thigh

and gave it a squeeze
and you told Brian later

if the jerk hadn’t been
riddled with cancer

and fucked with aids
you’d have stuffed

his hand up his ass
to brush his teeth

and so Brian said
oh don’t be such a stiff

and went off in a huff
and you said

ok maybe I wouldn’t
have done such a thing

but he could have asked first
before grabbing my thigh

and Brian rattled
the cups and saucers

in the kitchen
and Ken sat listening

to Gregorian chant
on the hifi

and you sat
on the sofa

giving Ken
the dark eye.

[dadio]

Truth is what must survive. I am not homophobic but as a young man was un prepared for the encounter that came my way that day. Ken sadly died a few months after and I went to his funeral.

[goldenmyst]

Well written. I didn't take it as homophobic. Just an honest portrayal of your experience.

John

[dadio]

Thank you, John.