At the local gay bar:

Me: "Hey, good to see you.  So, you finally came out?"

Ginger: "What do you mean finally?"

Me: "We always knew you were gay."

Ginger: "Well, I wish someone had told me."  (Laughs).

She doesn't know
How broken I am
How damaged
How shamed
How close I came
Close enough
To see the light
Decided to fight
But, still
Not quite right
She wants to know me
And, in truth, she does
Closer, at least
Than anyone was
Heartaches heal
But not without
Scar tissue
Inside and out
Now tough and hard
What was tender and sweet
My heart, my self
Is hard to reach
Not deceptive
But self-protective
She must be brave
And immensely perceptive
But, I have always known
There are pieces of me
No one can see
Not even me.