Pittsburgh Airport (24 November 1994)

A man

sleeping on his side

hands pulled up to his face,

knees slightly bent

his

back

side

toward

me.

Ass

curves

accentuated

by the worn denim

of his jeans.

His breath

slowly

expands & contracts his chest,

gently rocking his hips.

Leather jacket folded

under his head

nestled in the animal scent of

his body,

absorbed in the soft hide.

Fingers curled

in an open fist.

White line of T-shirt

along the nape of his neck

touching the base of his skull

meeting the line of his (short) hair cut

Beyond the glass,

the sun glints off a passing plane.

Sleeping beauty has awakened

and left his bed of chairs

empty

save for the sun

& the shadows

that have taken his place.

-- Larry Wolf (1994)

[Posted 2025]

Just Below the Surface (24 November 1994)

The fear

lurking

just below the surface

fag

kike

pinko

commie

sissy

fairy

cityboy

Never knowing where the hurt will come from.

The beauty of the snow

the quiet of the early evening

shattered

by a snowball rubbed in my face

Fuck! him!

Don’t! fuck! him!

Freeze him out.

Cut him

out

of my heart.

Cut the joy out of me.

One assault

intended to teach a lesson

but the lesson it taught

gone awry.

There will be no other lessons.

The student is no longer present.

-- Larry Wolf (1994)

[Posted 2025]

Thank You, Louisville (7 June 1994)

Thank you, Louisville

Hot humid city by the river

Queer celebration

Coming out ‘94

Each of us, living our lives

pushing our limits

spreading our wings

We are always coming out and coming home.

After 18 years of living in Vermont,

(How I love those cool green mountains

And how I miss my mountain man, gardener, actor, lover of 14 years, soon to join me here)

starting again in a new city

coming out to new neighbors, new co-workers, new friends

Thank you, Louisville

for your coffee houses and your pride,

for your gayness,

for your open hearts.

Thank you, Louisville

-- Larry Wolf (1994)

[Posted 2025]