Bite-Sized — Hattie Madia

Girl is a word I don’t call myself often
But I’ll never correct anyone
I know it will only be replaced with other words
Words I wish I never heard

I won’t mention a crush in front of them
I’ll keep my mouth shut at every wrong word
I’ll wear a dress
And put on makeup
Because I am a “good gay”

My brain is filled with splinters
Like the people they talk about how
“I identify as an attack helicopter" 
The words that make me sick
The words I ignore and smile at
Because I am a “good gay”

Quiet, discreet, and can take a joke
Even if I have to try to avoid being the joke
You call me a girl and I don’t correct you
You call me a girlkisser to my face like it’s a joke
Like I am not real
Like I cannot hear you

Your words cut into my flesh
Cutting me into pieces you are willing to swallow
So you can choose which parts you like
You’re a good ally when I am bite-sized
You swear to it 
But you never mean it

You call me a fag like I’m not one
Like It’s a part of me that they can ignore
Like when I brought my girlfriend to meet you
And you just called her my friend
And I could barely defend myself
I could barely defend her
Because I am your bite-sized fag

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Hattie Madia is a fifteen-year old queer teenager from Washington State who loves to share their story and words with anyone willing to listen. They spend most of their time reading and writing poems as a way to put thoughts on paper. They hope other LGBTQ people and anyone their age read their work and feel a little less alone. Hattie loves all forms of art and self-expression and is very excited to share their words with the world.