The Parade Was Never a Parade, But a Riot

Fairies or fags are men or boys who exploit sex for profit.
— The Hobo: The Sociology of The Homeless Man (1923)
God is an astronaut.
— Clive Barker

Fairies or fags are men or boys who exploit sex for profit
and god is an astronaut, so do not sway from your routine.
Beat the wings and fly leather over lace, spit

into the eyes of each captor. America takes all types, but prohibits
the sewing of quilts, which is to say, some of us are obscene
fairies and fags, men and boys who give sex for profit

while homeless because America gives the OK to say Stop it
and kick any child to the curb that does not fit or mean
to use their wings for glory, leather strap, a handful of spit

ordained by gods. But we can all see the remains, the bits
of tread from the tires of men who spend money on clean
fairies or fags, masculine men for boys because sex is profit

until you get caught. Then it’s all Jesus forgive my fits
of backsliding. Who cares what you do in your home between
the sheets, but here? Beat them like wings for wearing leather, lace. Spit

shame in the name of your god, but good luck when the brick punches
through stained glass. Count the number of bullets that scream
and fail against all us fairies, fags. We love and profit
despite you. Beat those wings, choose leather, lace, and spit.

ANTHONY ISAAC BRADLEY

Anthony Isaac Bradley’s writing has appeared in Prairie Schooner, Coachella Review, and Cimarron Review. He is the Reviews Editor at Infrarrealista Review. Currently, he resides in Austin, TX with his cat and the ghost of another.