Historically, a broadsheet is an advertisement or collection of work—poetry, for example—on a single side of a large sheet of paper or poster, distributed in hard copy. I’ve decided to do a series of broadsheets on this blog. Today’s will include one photo and the poem I wrote to accompany it. I do write poetry, but rarely publish it online anywhere, as traditional publishers consider a poem published once it has been uploaded (anywhere). The poems I’ll publish here have already been published elsewhere. I will credit the publisher, as well as the photographer in each case. Here is today’s entry:
photo by Anya Blasser June 15, 1984
TUXEDO AND GOWN (BEAUTIFUL)
We were beautiful the day
we went to the prom. The
gay and lesbian prom took
place on June 15, 1984. You
rented a tux, I bought a
vintage gown and let out the
seams. We both had the
loose curls of romance, and
the pink bloom of youth.
Your photographer friend
came to the house and
took professional shots of
you, me, us, my cat, our
flowers, piano, and the
sun streaming in the windows.
You were slim, handsome
in your white shirt, black
tux, cummerbund and tie, I
was voluptuous and beaming
in shell pink tulle, white lace,
rose pink taffeta with satin
undergarments that made
seductive music when I walked.
We look like newlyweds in
that stack of photographs.
There is a shot of our hands
in white-gold filigree rings with
expensive stones, holding hands,
though we were never wed,
only divorced after nineteen
years. On prom day we
were beautiful.
This is too much sad.
I’m sorry my poem made you sad, M. I’d better put up another one, and look for happy!