To the Gay Man at My Little Brother’s High School Graduation

thank you,
for being here, for being,
for being in the front row,
for wearing your thick dangling double-hoops,
for bringing your bright pink handheld fan,
for waving it & clacking it &
having DADDY written on it,
for having DADDY written on it big black & loud,
for being big black & loud
& gay
& maybe you’re not gay but
they don’t know the difference,
for standing up,
for standing up & yelling YAAASS
in that big bright voice of yours
a bit like my mother’s,
for making my mother hear
& see you,
for making me feel seen
without the slasher horror
of being it,
for taking up all that space
& yet, in doing so,
saving me
a seat.