Two Poems By Robert Donohue

Blessings

Today, just for us three, there is a tender
Blessing. Along with me here’s Mike, a goner,
And here is Amber, proud to be transgender,
Who always sits her back facing a corner.
The priest blesses us all, but as it stands
Approaching Amber is the point he balks.
He hesitates while laying on his hands,
He’s fronting with the openness he talks.
It’s now I see a priests can get it wrong:
Of us three, Amber is the congregant,
And I feel guilty that I go along,
But all this proves is I’m obedient.
Amber, it doesn’t matter where you rest,
Believe yourself; believe that you are blessed.

To Thine Own Self Be True

We know ourselves; all worthy poets do,
We venture to the bottom of our pits
Confronting our worst demon, where he sits
An exile from the light and out of view,
Then we present this voyage unto you
At least as far as your good taste permits
And even if you’re scared out of your wits
You sympathize, if what we say is true.

But somehow when we manage to offend
We’re quick as anybody to defend
Against insinuations of a vice;
You have to get to know us, we will say,
And let your cautious judgments fall away,
It isn’t what you think: we’re really… nice!
To Thine Own Self Be True

We know ourselves; all worthy poets do,
We venture to the bottom of our pits
Confronting our worst demon, where he sits
An exile from the light and out of view,
Then we present this voyage unto you
At least as far as your good taste permits
And even if you’re scared out of your wits
You sympathize, if what we say is true.

But somehow when we manage to offend
We’re quick as anybody to defend
Against insinuations of a vice;
You have to get to know us, we will say,
And let your cautious judgments fall away,
It isn’t what you think: we’re really… nice!

Robert Donohue’s poetry has appeared in Amethyst Review, Better Than Starbucks, FreezeRay Poetry, and Pulsebeat Journal, among others. He lives on Long Island, NY.