The Queen's Chair: Dying At Home

(QM's Note: I wrote this poem in honor of World AIDS Day.)

Tony Johnson died today.
He had full blown AIDS
but wasn't gay

Tony, Jai and Anthony
were friends for years
The others never saw this coming

I watched them at the funeral--
Jai pulled his hand back from the casket
like he was going to catch something

Tony's family: a different story
They wouldn't let him come home at first
and they refused to entertain the thought
that their son could be gay
but the faces of AIDS...
it's changing.

AIDS effects mostly
black women whose men are on the downlow,
children and those engaging in risky s*xual behaviors
According to Jai, "you just never know about people anymore
because this isn't a gay, white men's disease anymore.
33 million people suffer from it.

Even though we raise lots of $$ for research,
testing and awareness
and we know more about the disease then we knew 20 years ago,
it is still considered a social stigma.

Now Anthony has to share the same news with his loved ones
he's not gay either but contracted the disease through a tainted blood transfusion.
It's not fair...
He knows his death can come at any time.
doesn't know how to tell his family.
And how they will take it.

All he wants to do is come home
and die
surrounded by his loved ones in comfort
and peace.
So he can die at home.



(Copyright 2010 4-1-1 Communications/Marsha Jones )