The Greensboro Boys

I have a crew of boys here
that I spend most of my time with
it has rather surprised me in a variety of ways

with the exception of one
these are not normally the men I connect with
or develop friendships with
to be honest I am normally too elitist to bother

they are not intellectuals or hipsters
not that they are unintelligent or hopeless
rough and brash men for the most part
loud to the point of annoyance on occasion
and I sure as hell wouldn't let any of them near my sister

they do not have much in the way of money, class or taste
but they are learning the last fairly quickly

but in this bastion of rednecks
I must consider myself quite lucky

we have, this motley crew and I
become quite close
and it amuses me to watch others
watch us

in a town like Greensboro
where men are men
and women are unsatisfied
there is much of that southern bravado
rarely can one go to a bar
without witnessing some embarrassing display
of the male ego
loud drunken voices
screaming

"Fuk Wit Me Den"

in that trailer park drawl
that just screams fifth grade drop out

a place where friends are measured
by whether or not they got your back in a fight

and then there is my crew

we go where we want
without paying for a cover charge
or most of our drinks

we don't tolerate trailer park machismo
and back up the staff at the clubs
to ensure a mellow and enjoyable night

our friendship is not based on if we would fight for each other
[which any of us would if it came to that]
[but we realize the futility of fighting]
[and how easy it is to be that sort of friend]
but rather would you pick up the phone
and be there for me at five in the morning

we are all fuck ups in our own way
each with his own issues
but somehow we have managed to carve out
our own space here
to let a little light of truth and emotion
shine between us

I see it in others eyes
they fear us because they do not understand us
we express ourselves and our emotions to each other
freely and with affection
but they cannot deny there is strength in our little group
a bond that they just do not want to fuck with

In this land of homophobes
we hug and kiss upon seeing each other
and when we part

more often than not
the last words exchanged are

"love you ... be safe"

I am often surprised
when I look around at my companions
but there is no denying
whatever this bond between us
it is real
and for me
holds true value