affection

They derided with open insolence my bohemian air,

scarily mincing in grotesque mimicry of comic

homosexual manners - perkily smirking -

the workers' treasured taunt for the leisured classes.

The blast of sheer injustice shook my composure,

and my blood rose flooding into red cheeks,

weakening my knees with a chill, crippling fear,

till I geared my thoughts to respond with an inner rage.

The stage has come when I yearn the opportunity

to impugn their credentials for promoting macho man,

by standing and trading insults, before leaping berserk

(with dirk and cudgel in hand) to bust them to pieces.

While doubting I command sufficient might,

I need the purge of that cathartic fight.