Current Issue/Words/What Are You?

Anonymous - "What Are You?"

“What are you?” he asked the question

whose answer is the information

we all burn to know,

rarely want to tell,

And never know how to inquire about.

“Are you…” she said rolling

her hand around insinuating

the fill-in-the-blank where

she understandably was too uncomfortable to fill herself.

And sometimes it’s a want

And a need

For it to be known,

Known like my skin color,

Known like my gender

So I don’t have to say it.

Other times it’s convenient

Because I’m a fuzzy color

Or a washed out beep

On the device they claim to have

(Mine is apparently dysfunctional)

Because I pass for either.

And I will not side with one or the other.

Yes, I am one of you,

As are the rest of us.

Your need for my alliance is

understandable, but ridiculous.

I rather not have to state it

Stop to explain it

Like a new science recently discovered

My label to be uncovered.

But I’d much rather tell you

Then leave you either curious and ignorant

Or perplexed and silent.

And it’s a constant debate in my head

As to what could be guessed

and what should be said.

Honestly, I’m proud, and want to share,

But to some, it gives reason to stare.

To those wonderful progressive few

It is hardly a surprise,

and makes good conversation.

And to those progressing towards progressive

It’s only a moment of confusion

And to those who like the names we make and see

My answer – bi Poly

sounds like a fabric,

The word written on the tag there

inside your new synthetic underwear

Or a catchy phrase you might read

on a campaign pin or on a propaganda wall

“Bi Poly: Why have one when you can have all?”

And still to others (or rather, most)

It is, even after explanation, unheard of

This long word meaning “many love”

I’ve heard many people, especially parents

with the dubious look, inquire about her certainty,

saying, “Are you sure?”

As if her certainty or mine

Of the accuracy of a word

Coined as a label

To describe not only

her tendencies in relationships

But also her behavior

for the entirety of her life

will somehow solve a problem

that only exists in the inquirers head.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course not.  Why should I be? What relevance does this question have to the topic at hand, dearest mother?”

Should be her answer.

The words serve only as a convenience.

To show us who’s in and who’s out

And is quite important in creating our stereotypes.

Our minds must label

Categorize, organize, and scrutinize

in order to function at all.

Yes, we hate them,

but we use them

and need them,

like it or not.

For your right brain, for the record,

for the box you have added to your case

for the need to write on a sticky white label

above the compartment inside of which I am placed –

Bisexual Polyamorous female

For your left brain

I offer a much softer,

More easily swallowed, understandable answer

To answer the original question,

I am human.

I am soul – love as a streamlet

Poured into physical form.

Yes, I am, as are we all

The essence of love,

And so it is without any surprise that we love.

I am attracted to women.

I am attracted to men.

But more so, I am attracted to human

I am pulled toward the being that exudes beauty from their core, not from their skin, organs, or clothes.

I am attracted to loving, affectionate, open people

who are ready to try to understand what isn’t

and open to accept what they can’t understand.

I am attracted to people who can be different sides of themselves and coexist willingly and joyfully without needing to control other people and other conditions,

One who chooses to change and chooses the peaceful path,

Even it is harder.

I am attracted to eyes that look into me,

and despite jealousy

and ego, emanate love.

I am attracted to people who can know in their mind

Loving another can only mean loving more, never less

Even if the heart doesn’t agree.

I am attracted to those who can love the me that loves in return, as well as the me that loves another amazing person.

I am attracted to the being inside a person that understands the eternity and simplicity of love –

That it exists even when we stop.

What am I?

I am human, and I love.