











































Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart Collide


Volume 3, Issue 2 
2021 

Allies for Education 2021, 3, 2 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 

 
Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart 
Collide 
 
Allison Graham 
 
 

This was written as beat poetry to be performed as spoken word by two people. The voice of Person 1 is 
represented in non-italics. Person 2 is represented in italics. The centered text is spoken in tandem. Red 
words interjected in the column in the opposite format (e.g., a red italicized word in the middle of a non-
italicized section) represent an interjection from the other speaker. It is to be read left column until the 
centered text, right column until the centered text, then center column.   

 

As a kid I was TOLD  
I could BE anything,  
BE whatever I want, 
DREAM  

Dream 
BIG! 
Reverie in rainbows,  
late night shows,  
unicorns, 
endless possibilities,  
     opportunities,  
     probabilities,  
     capabilities  

Endless  
Encouragement, 
confidence. 
I was essentially loved,  
family tensions,  
nuclear detonations.  
Optimism,  
affirmations, aspirations, 
college degrees.  

Possibilities  

 I was left at a gate, 
five-months did I wait,  
isolated  

Alone  
insulated,  
prohibt-tat-ed, 
left behind, 
my life to be defined. 
I was adopted by whites,  
given rights, 
Parents for scary nights,  
inc-u-bated  

Gestated  
indoctrinated,  
cerebral-lated,  
intelligence,  
expectations,  
postulations,  
demonstrations,  
aspirations  

Identity  
 
 



Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart Collide 
Allison Graham 

Allies for Education 2021, 3, 2 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

Conceptualize,  
revolutionize,  
opportun-alize.  

college degrees, 
 privilege-izations.  

 
That’s how we got our start. 

I went to a private Catholic School Growing Up. 
 
Discipline, 
religion. 
Take your catholic medicine,  

In Nomine  
Don’t be late, 
Christ can hate, 
Priests can speak the word of God, 
no one thinks that’s kinda odd?  

Pater  
Nuns stay on bridal knees,  
God Herself does not need,  
Repeat exactly what is said,  
or you’ll meet the Devil’s end,  
He will take your soul away.  
Just be good. 

Sanctus  
Do as told 

Et spiritus 
Please do TRY and fit this mold.  

Filius.  
 

 Nuns beat,  
Ductus  

knuckles red,  
put religion in my head,  

Exemplo  
white Shirts,  
plaid Skirts,  
penny loafers,  
pink and green,  
popular girls  

WE ARE MEAN!  
Corporal punish principals,  
wooden paddles,  
spank bad apples,  
 
I’d misbehave until last bell,  
mother never took it well,  
Fulminate and criticize,  
Please go out and proselytize. 
  
Daily religious classes,  
for the Lord to feed Her masses,  

Volente  
beatings, 
lashes,  

Deo  
acolyte smashes. 
 
We do appreciate,  
Godliness to subjugate,  

SILENCE!  
is a golden rule, 
for the church to be so cruel,  
bad things happen under stairs 
behind closed doors 
no one cares.  

 
I am now a recovering Catholic. 

 



Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart Collide 
Allison Graham 

Allies for Education 2021, 3, 2 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

I remember where I was when Gay 
Marriage was announced.  

 I remember where I was when Gay Marriage 
was announced. 

 
June 26th, two-thousand fifteen. 

 
Much of my life was lived in the dark, 
A red scarlet mark,  

Marry  
On love’s societal fringe,  
on a binge, 
overdoing,  

Whomever  
slightly abusing,  
having a blast,  

You LOVE! 
will always last,  
teachings from my past. 
I was taught this way.  
 

 Much of my life was lived in the light, 
Front-line was my fight,  

Fight?  
with impertinence,  
insolence,  
brazenness. 
Stigmatized,  
classified,  
marginalized, 
 discrimi-nal-lizied,  
characterized.  

Rights?  
When growing up gay, 
without marriage why stay?  
I was taught this way.  

 
Love is Love 

 
Salt Lake City one day, 
the worst place to be gay.  
Fighting haters,  
discrimanators, 
chased down dark alleyways,  
beer bottles thrown my way.  
Fighting back 
on the attack. 
please don’t speak that way,  
it’s hard enough to be gay.  

 Pasadena one day,  
the best place to downplay.  
Deceiving investigators,  
bypassing interrogators,  
performing as straight,  
How long should I wait?  
Morally complicit, 
led by the elicit,  
fit to the mold,  
expectation,  
anticipation  
knowing my fate, 
Will it be too late?  
To be authentically me 
in this city I see? 

 
Never give up; always tits up! 

 
               What the hell are you talking about?                                             Progress brings change. 

                                                            
 
 
 

  
 
 
 



Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart Collide 
Allison Graham 

Allies for Education 2021, 3, 2 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

Reclaiming, renaming, reframing, re-
appropriating,  

White privilege  
separating 
fragmentating, 
Have many people heard?  

Bi-an-ary,  
Conversionary 

cis-patriarchy  
equity, multiplicity, 
reciprocity, diversity,  
social constructivity,  
heteronormativity,  
non-conformity  
Yes, I’ve heard.  
I teach these words.  

 
I get more words to use now.                                          She gets a bit of it now. 

Am I alone?                                                                     She’s not alone. 
 

New identifiers?  
Modifications,  
trans-dictionaries 

self 
alterations 
revis-o-nations 
individual flags? 
one rainbow incorporated 

Identification 
amalgamation 
integration 

 Associations, 
Interpretations, 
Privilege-i-zations 
Insert-ation 
Maintaining rights, 

For 
Court fights 

All 
Marching in the street, 

Fights 
Fighting defeat 

 
We keep the beat. 

 
Now today, 
we teach-preach 
a whole new way. 
Excitement to feel free 
something denied to me  

 Finally, we have the right,  
To love with all our might  
 

 
Our people died for WE. 

 
Conquering, 
Vanquishing, 

Overpowering! 
You’re not going to make the jump if you don’t take the leap. 

About the Author
 

Allison L. Graham is a global learning technologist, an immersive storyteller, and a social media historian. 


	Binary Converginary: Front Lines, a World Apart Collide
	About the Author

