Guessing Game/Tricked Into Listening
I am anonymous
Because I am fat
Not because I am gay, queer, or trans—
I am unafraid of
Homophobic bigots—
I avoid using
My picture
Because I don’t want to miss out
On the majority of folks
Who would never ever listen, tune in
Or read any of my poems
If they already knew I was fat—
I am less interested
In image than I am substance
I am more than just
Flesh on a skeleton
I am so many wonderful
Beautiful things
But the only thing
Anyone sees
Is how much they think you weigh.
It’s like that guessing game
At the carnival
Except
I get to watch
As the sparks fly
When people who have ignored fat issues
Their whole lives
Get to read my
“Sad self–loathing pity seeking missiles”
Aka
All of the vomit
You regurgitate
When you realize you got
Tricked into listening
To a fat person’s bitching.