I’m Not a Man
I have acne and a small peter.
I’m not a man. I don’t like football, boxing and cars.
I like to express my feeling. I even like to put an arm
around my friend’s shoulder.
I’m not a man. I won’t play the role assigned to me- the role created
by Madison Avenue, Playboy, Hollywood and Oliver Cromwell,
Television does not dictate my behavior.
I’m not a man. Once when I shot a squirrel I swore that I would
never kill again. I gave up meat. The sight of blood makes me sick.
I like flowers.
I’m not a man. I went to prison resisting the draft. I do not fight
when real men beat me up and call me queer. I dislike violence.
I’m not a man. I have never raped a woman. I don’t hate blacks.
I do not get emotional when the flag is waved. I do not think I should
love America or leave it. I think I should laugh at it.
I’m not a man. I have never had the clap.
I’m not a man. Playboy is not my favorite magazine.
I’m not a man. I cry when I’m unhappy.
I’m not a man. I do not feel superior to women
I’m not a man. I don’t wear a jockstrap.
I’m not a man. I write poetry.
I’m not a man. I meditate on peace and love.
I’m not a man. I don’t want to destroy you
San Francisco, 1972
Brilliant. The world has lost a great poet.
-Dustin W.
Mr. Norse was everything I wanted to be. He will live on in the poets of today and tomorrow the same as Whitman and Ginsberg, and it is with those Saints, Saint Walt and Saint Allen, he now takes his place in forever.
Thank you, Saint Harold. For existing.
I’d never heard of Harold Norse until I read his obit in Time. Sounds like an interesting fellow, I thought. I wanted to know more. Stumbled onto this website, perused, read this poem. It made me cry. I’m not a man, either; I’m a woman, a lesbian, and certainly, even beyond that, not the societal stereotype. I understand what he means.
I had an inspiring morning reading this memorial site for Harold. I wish he could have seen the small revival of his era, which I think is coming.
http://livadas.blogspot.com/2009/07/in-memoriam-harold-norse-1916-2009.html
http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.texnes&id=64485
I salute you all. Neeli i am waiting for Mel Clay to respond at: yannislivadas@hotmail.com.
Take care.
This is me to a T. Except hustler is my favorite magazine.
I chose this poem for an Oral Interpretation class at my University. Harold Norse. His words have spoken volumes to me, until I read this poem I felt very alone in this world. Thank you Mr. Norse.