Cast into outer Darkness

 

My family treated me as an adjunct

seldom was I included in their lives

I was lucky to receive a Christmas Card

a visit was rare indeed

 

Is this because I had done something wrong

or in some way offended them

The reason lingers beneath the surface

as they prefer to change the subject

 

I think of them often as we are related

I grew up knowing them all

But when I became an adult I was side lined

kept on the periphery of their families

 

They were seldom openly rude to me

I always sent a card and present when appropriate

Some I liked more than others

but it was all a sham really

 

I was kept at arms length

some deference came my way

but only occasionally

I persisted for years to be accepted

 

Then it dawned on me, slow on the uptake

I am gay and this they don´t like

I was once told that I was tolerated

not accepted but someone to be endured

 

I was an oddity, smirked at

and spoken about behind my back

My partner has endured worse

with his kith and kin

 

Together we still persevered

wanting to be liked

But it was useless, a waste of time 

So they can all fuck off