Curtain Calls

I never solicited curtain calls:

pried upon as I am by bigots,

like an actor in front of those

who temper themselves with orthodoxy,

with half words and snooping

or

by sniffing my voice

whenever I raged

whenever I cursed

when, wounded, I screamed

but still swore

that I would rise again and walk.

Translated by Patricia Gatt