i wrote this up while feeling verrry ingrid

[mod_squad7117]

I didn't know I was "gay" until my second quarter (it was winter) in high school when this bumbling old priest who had been assigned to teach us Sex Ed--oddly placed in the curriculum between Buddhism and Nihilism--confronted chapter 7 of our Sex Ed handbook, Becoming a Man(ironically echoing the title of the modern, gay novelist, Paul Montte)

Comments

[heartsasmagnets]

I just have to say - this felt incredibly personal to be reading about someone I don't know, but - I couldn't take my eyes off it. You are an incredible writer. This is so...I don't even know. So full of emotion...so raw and the flow mimics the mood and keeps you holding your breath for the next words. Just...yeah. Wow.

[mod_squad7117]

First and foremost, Thank you, sincerely, for such kind words. And I'm not saying what follows out of any false sense of modesty or further fishing for compliments, but I am hardly a writer. This came out as it did because it is entirely too personal; that is, in some odd way, the point of it still being open and up to the world. But I think a writer has to be able to be so many people, which is why no matter how badly I wish I could engage these wonderful new characters I'll never be able to: they'd just come out as me and I'd feel horrible inflicting that on others. At least with this I know people had to take the time to find it and read it and in the extraordinary cases, leave something nice. Again, thank you (not least of all for reminding me I had this up here)

[mary_flanner]

I actually read this for the first time weeks ago, but like heartsasmagnets said, it felt so personal that I felt like it would be a violation to say anything. Unfortunately, I can't get it out of my head and when she thanked you on LJ today, I couldn't concentrate until I came in and told you how beautiful and perfect it is.

Everyone is a writer because everyone is a storyteller because everyone has a story to tell. Yours, though, is told in such a sharp, elegant way. I think anyone who falls on the "hate" side of LGBTQIA battle should be required to read this and then explain why somebody doesn't deserve to have that level of respect and love.

[mod_squad7117]

Truly, I cannot express how much it matters to me that you left such a power response. This means so much to me for so many reasons; perhaps most of all because it keeps him close to me, even now. To know that others find him as lovely and wonderful as I did makes me profoundly grateful for how this turned out; makes me feel like it's a worthy act of memory. I am so appreciative that you took the time to read this in the first place and then took more to leave such a touching note.

[mary_flanner]

Are you familiar with the works of Pablo Neruda? Something about the tone of your piece reminds of his gorgeous poem "Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines" or "Tonight I Write the Saddest Lines of All" (translated from Spanish, so versions vary).

[mod_squad7117]

I've read some of his work and now am intrigued about that one. Thanks for the suggestion (and the comparison! To echo, even faintly, that tone is praise indeed)