By Delaney Burk

He Nearly Spent His Chemo Treatment on Elton John Tickets

Comes out all rushed before I am ready.
Told me he had cancer. Had to top that.
George, Amy, David, Prince, Freddie–

Valentine’s décor; heartbeat unsteady.
Eye contact refused. Gaze is on the placemat.
Came out all rushed before I was ready.

“We caught it early; not likely deadly.”
Brother watches my tears: all this? Old hat.
George, Amy, David, Prince, Freddie–

Answers, ignored; all this is too heavy.
Panic ceases and “I’m bi” slips out flat,
Comes out all rushed before I am ready.

Stares and silence soak; he won’t love me any
Less than before – don’t we both sing toasts at
George, Amy, David, Prince, Freddie?

“Two reveals, nothing in common,” said he.
Queer artists, lost too soon, in their eyes – Death spat,
Came out all rushed before I was ready.
George, Amy, David, Prince, Freddie.