A kid in my class
hung himself.
His father found him,
cut him down
before the ambulance arrived.
The funeral was a quiet affair.
Only immediate family attended.
Rumor had it
he was gay
and dressed in women’s clothes.
Rumor had it
rumors were what he died of.
John Grey is an Australian poet, U.S. resident. Recently published in New Plains Review, South Carolina Review, Stillwater Review and Big Muddy Review with work upcoming in Louisiana Review, Cape Rock and Spoon River Poetry Review.
A Quiet Courage 