Writing Queer Characters - Launching A New Occasional Series with "Dear Authors" - A Queer Teen's spoken word poem about LGBTQAI+ Representation

I'm delighted to be launching this new series of posts with this very heartfelt video, "Dear Authors", which I'm sharing with the teen creator's permission:



Writing queer characters for young people is a topic that's been getting more attention and coverage in writing conferences around the USA this past year, and we'll be hearing from some of those presenters.

Stay tuned for some great stuff ahead! And thanks to @JoneMac53 over on twitter for the heads-up on "Dear Authors!"

Lee

Lesbian Teen Poetry: Sarah Laurenson's "First Love" and "How Bare My Soul" - Poetry Across Time

When I told Sarah Laurenson that I was doing a tribute to GLBTQ poetry for and by Teens to celebrate National Poetry Month, she did something incredible: She gave me the choice of a poem she wrote back when she was a teen, and a poem she'd recently written as an adult looking back on being a teenager.

I loved both poems, and perhaps as much, I loved the windows through time that comparing the two poems offered. She's very graciously allowed me to share them both with you!

Sarah Laurenson, Adult

Here's her poem "First Love," written when she was an adult looking back on being a Teenager:

First Love

Lying in your arms,
I feel safe,
Loved, adored.

I snuggle closer.
You talk
Of your future.

Husband, kids.
White picket fence.

I’m so confused.

Do I have to be a man
To be with the woman I love?

Sarah Laurenson, Teen

And now here's her poem "How Bare My Soul," written when Sarah was a Teen:

HOW BARE MY SOUL

How bare my soul,
Like trees in winter.
Stripped of outer feeling
By the cold of her passing.
Left barren and defenseless,
I draw into myself
And hibernate.

A breath of spring
Touches me gently.
New emotions, like leaves,
Sprout and take hold of my heart.
Guiding it gently outward,
To find this source of warmth,
My eyes see you.

In addition to being an amazing poet, Sarah has a great blog, and is also a huge volunteer for the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators as our SoCal webmaster and Los Angeles Assistant Regional Advisor.

Thanks, Sarah!