Tonight
The muse decided to sit on my shoulder
And softly whisper names in my ear
I can’t help the wistful smile
As I see with adult eyes
One by one
The girls and women that I’ve loved
From inside the closet
Classmates from high school…and college
Softball teammates…and competitors
Older than me… and some younger
A few coworkers… and two bosses
Some married with children
Diverse and unique each one
They were the girls and women I’ve loved
From inside the closet
Far be it for me to name
The girls and women that I’ve loved
From inside the closet
I just know
They were special to me
In all the sweet innocence of those days
Before I understood and accepted
I was a woman who loved women
If I knew then what I know now
Would it have made a difference?
Could it have made a difference?
Should it have made a difference?
My heart says maybe, then maybe not
My head tells me I’ll never know
It was safer then to love them
From inside the closet
Of all the girls and women that I’ve loved
From inside the closet
Only a handful know the truth of now
That I am a woman who loves women
Their friendship I dearly cherish
Yet I can’t help but wonder
About all the others through the years
Whose memories I hold close to my heart
Would they ever know?
Could they ever know?
Should they ever know?
My heart says maybe, then maybe not
My head tells me I’ll never know
So until the day comes, if ever
And I meet them face to face again
I’ll go on loving them from inside the closet
©L. Kupfer
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