I feel I should preface this particular poem with a note. The Forgotten Child does not reflect my own coming out experience. However, I have witnessed the pain of others who have faced the experiences this poem speaks of. Therefore, this poem is dedicated to all those whose honesty was greeted by rejection.
You looked upon me as I lay in my crib
Your baby, so helpless and small
With love bright deep in your eyes
a heart's warmth freely given
I was your child
Your baby, so helpless and small
With love bright deep in your eyes
a heart's warmth freely given
I was your child
You watched me; you held me
My tears and smiles your own
We laughed and we played
We cried and we prayed
I was your child
My tears and smiles your own
We laughed and we played
We cried and we prayed
I was your child
Parent and child, together we grew
Through love you showed me the world
The hopes that you shared
Showed my future prepared
I was your child
Through love you showed me the world
The hopes that you shared
Showed my future prepared
I was your child
When my goals became different
You gave me room to grow
For the child will fall
To the adolescent's call
Still, I was your child
You gave me room to grow
For the child will fall
To the adolescent's call
Still, I was your child
One difference in me brooks no refute
A truth I cannot deny
I thought you would see
That I was still me
That I was still your child
A truth I cannot deny
I thought you would see
That I was still me
That I was still your child
How then has it happened?
Why do I now stand alone?
Because I chose to reveal
Who I am, what I feel?
Have you forgotten your child?
Why do I now stand alone?
Because I chose to reveal
Who I am, what I feel?
Have you forgotten your child?
What unforgivable wrong have I done
that has left me cast away?
Or is there no longer room in your heart
for me - your child - who is gay?
that has left me cast away?
Or is there no longer room in your heart
for me - your child - who is gay?
I am who I was, and always will be
the child you held by the hand
But now I can see, you look upon me
as a stranger you don't understand
the child you held by the hand
But now I can see, you look upon me
as a stranger you don't understand
This virtue you taught, of telling the truth
of honesty right from the start
of honesty right from the start
How is it now when I've told you the truth
we stand now worlds apart
we stand now worlds apart
The pain that rages dwells deep in my heart
and the anguish you'll never know
You turned me away because I am gay
you want me - your child - to go
and the anguish you'll never know
You turned me away because I am gay
you want me - your child - to go
How quickly it was you seemed to forget
The happiness we shared
When truth became told
Your hearts became cold
Was I not your child?
The happiness we shared
When truth became told
Your hearts became cold
Was I not your child?
Together we stood as a family
Until I learned who I was
Now with trust lying broken
These words go unspoken
I am your child!
Until I learned who I was
Now with trust lying broken
These words go unspoken
I am your child!
I am your child!
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