The Quiet Game

In the quiet game,

the first person to speak, loses

It is often employed by parents

of talkative young children,

hoping for a little momentary peace

But sometimes, after we age,

the child – through lack of

text messages, phone calls, and visits –

ends up playing the quiet game

with their father

In the quiet game,

you win by not making a sound

I let you learn your grandchild’s

new name on Facebook

Because I didn’t want

to have this conversation,

the one we are having right now

In this awkward moment

at our awkward family reunion

You made a point of telling me

you don’t have anything against

anyone being gay or trans

And for a moment,

I felt a glimmer of hope

Which quickly faded

as you continued.

You just don’t like when they

flaunt it on television and movies

In the quiet game, you win

by not letting your existence have a voice

And, you feel the need to add,

you think it is a sin

The quiet game was invented

…a long time ago

You do, however, point out

that you don’t think it is okay

to beat them up

How you’d have their backs

if that ever happened

Acknowledging the very real possibility

of danger, of force, of intimidation, of violence

That may come upon them

for the very beliefs you have been rattling off

People always seem to be freaked out

when they hear sounds coming from the closet,

even when they shoved someone inside

And I wonder how I will report

this conversation when I return home

So I guess, my children, grandpa will be fine

if you would just play the quiet game

with your lives

Written March 2, 2024