2 of my published poems about loved ones who died from AIDS

[roughsatori]

I would be grateful if you took a look. Click on "post a comment," at the site and you can leave an anonymous response. You need not register or leave a name.

Both poems are factual. I was about 17 when HEAT happened (Shirley died of AIDS in prison.) And I was about 26 when Lemar dumped me to die a born again Christian. I don't blame him. I am not sure I would be brave if I found out I had an horrendous, terminal illness. I love them both forever (if forever is possible).

Click Safe Link to read 1x1=0 and HEAT: http://black-listedmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/04/two-poems-by-joseph-hargraves.html

Please, if you have it in you, leave a comment- even an comment- but if you write that you like the poems, that would be great and make me smile.


Miss you all. I just can't take politics anymore. I posted this in General Discussion by mistake. I thought GLBTQ would be a better fit: Rough Satori JOE

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Good stuff

Makes me think: his DU screen name is also well chosen. I'll send links to people who like poems.

[roughsatori]

3. I ran away from home at 15 for being gay: KICKED OUT BY DAD

Shirley was a drug dealer and prostitute. I fell in love with her for a year. She died of AIDS in prison. I am 100% gay- but I loved her romantically and fully.
.
The guy in 1X1=0 was a young man I loved more deeply than I thought possible. I took care of him. Even when he had a heart catheter and sores over his entire body, his right eye-lid was eaten away by disease. He became born again Christian. He moved to a Christian Hospice--because he said loving me would cause God to send him to hell. I was destroyed. Never really got over it. Some have told me it is a mean nasty poem.

Thank you so much for reading my poetry. Rough Satori (JOE)

[closeupready]

2. I liked 1x1=0 especially.

I could really just see you writing this, angry, and a little sad. :( Very well-written. (Heat, as well.)

[roughsatori]

4. I have been told by some that I seem hateful for letting go of a lover with AIDS

I am happy you noticed that he let go of me. I had dressed his wounds and loved him in an unconditional way that nearly killed me when he, a dying man, covered in sores, blind in one eye, on IV, a heart catheter DUMPED ME because he thought my love would get him at ticket to hell. I sometimes feel even though I am young, healthy, and productive that he killed me. I walk around dead. I never date anyone since his death. I am happy you got the poem. Rough Satori (JOE)

[closeupready]

5. I did. It's moving when people, like you have done, create powerful poetry from pain.

Or that is to say, it's moving that you are inspired to express your pain from that experience in a constructive, almost beautiful, way. Beautiful except that it's hard to describe sad things as 'beautiful', but if you can, your poem is. Peace to you. :hi:

[roughsatori]

7. Thank you very much. I read it at a poetry reading and was HISSED

And when I read my work I refuse to explain. I just let things happen as they do in public. Thanks again.

[mitchtv]

6. read them

wow i get it take care of yourself

[roughsatori]

8. Mitch after having 2 posts deleted for defending GLBTQ rights

It is good to get nice feed-back and see you still here. Rough Satori (JOE)

[mitchtv]

9. don't burn your bridges

we need all the help we can get. we need to develop a national movement, that's real .

[mitchtv]

10. K&R