Just Another Word

FAGGOT

A car drives past
A young man shouts
“FAGGOT”

Another word
Just like any other word.
Or is it?

A rainbow of emotions and questions …
Fear … Will they become violent?
Shock … How can this happen here?

Those thoughts flash in my mind
That flash is gone
Now it’s ANGER

Or is it RAGE
How dare that man call me a “FAGGOT”
He’s not a man … He’s a coward

Hiding in his car
Shouting “FAGGOT” while driving by
Frightened little coward

Every time I think about it
The RAGE
Surges within me

The RAGE frightens me
More than the coward
Who yelled “Faggot”

I take another deep, slow breath
Letting go of the rage
After all, faggot is just another word