The Indian Boy Who Does Not Want to Be an Indian

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

Not suitable at all except . . . that he

Is beautiful and male, he wants away

From marriage, even to a man.  The sea

Removed him first, but ships then brought dismay

In loneliness and seasick heaves, and then

He learned that men are only men . . . until . . .

He . . . found . . . one . . ., one who had a swollen . . . yen

For him . . . . . . but this one man could not fulfill

Boy dreams.  In university, too, far

Beyond his boyhood village he soon learned

That everywhere a young man has to spar

With life no matter how his lover burned.

  A rich man could have served him better, of

    Course, but desire includes much less than love.

© Phillip Whidden