Never Your Child

It would never be your child
who dies of despair
because the help they needed
was callously denied 
by self serving politicians
looking for a scapegoat.

 

It would never be your child
who is Queer
and hounded by bullies 
who crave their fear
and use difference
as an excuse to be cruel.

 

It would never be your child
who lives their life in silence
because you spew the same lies
as the bullies they fear.
Because having a Queer child
is just too heavy a burden for you.

 

It would never be your child.
These things only happen
to other people’s children.
But Queer is not a choice —
not some ludicrous mind virus —
and only courage is contagious here.

 

But keep on telling yourself
that everything will be fine —
that it would never be your child.