T R A M P Poem by Jim Boone

</> They called her, 'Tramp'
those who were ‘saving it’, for those
who made her reputation
with frequent fornication.

They called me, 'Sissy-boy'
because I didn't want to
enter into the depths
of willingness
to take all they had to give.

'The town Queer'
is what they called John Summers
for always
bringing things to a head
getting off
in the mouth of diversity
while I wanted to watch.

They called me often
as awareness set in
that the watcher was a pleaser
and one who wouldn't tell

a son who gave up
on trying to be heard
about a natural inclination
that could not be passed over

a nomad, a survivor
a reminder, a loner
a tramp.

1970