Written in the Margins - Poetry by Marcel Monroy

Illustration by Marcel Monroy

In these poems, I am attempting to explore the dichotomy between growing up in an intensely religious environment and being an openly queer person of color in the south. In coming to terms with otherness, I found an inherent necessity to reconcile the metamorphosis of my psyche with the doctrines that shaped my values; and close the gap between moralistic shifts in the changing landscape of my sexuality. I thought I had to give up until I realized it was ok to give in, and usually the latter feels better. Through lived experiences I found strength in the chains that bound me, and that’s what I hope to share in this work: freedom from spiritual bondage.

Written in the Margins

Pervert my ends 

Show up as the serpent 

In the sheep’s mouth 

My fleece is for the shepherd

Take it good again 

Feed the flock rotten fruit 

Make it good again 

Bring it to the garden

Bayou (2019)

Be the one 

To find my

Body down by

The river bottoms 

Bring the lye 

Try the holy fire too

Burn it to be sure

This is how you save

Baptisms on Saturdays 

Tongue tithe the latter day

Forbidden Fruit

Eye, blind to indiscretion

Sink into depression

Silent repression of emotion

Wash me in your ocean

Tides pull me out to sea

But the mist will

Leave me alone, sitting

Wondering by the phone

Will you call or come home?

Practice for the coffin

When your touch will not soften

The sadness of a stiff face

Once holding grace given by God

By God you will miss me when

The Serpent rears its head and

Hisses headfirst into the fire

Hunger for forbidden fruit

Wait until its ripe to rip it from the root