On The Edge Of Tears (November 19, 2016)

We look

At the future

With rose coloured

Glasses.

Dreaming

Of an emerging world

Filled with love

And compassion.

Knowing

Our past is

One filled

With extreme prejudice

And violence.

For too many

Of our brothers

And sisters

Have paid

In their lives.

Whether

At the hands 

Of family members

Or complete strangers.

Something

I know

All too well.

Having experienced

Traumatic events

From both.

Almost 

Costing me

My life.

Sitting here

Fighting back

The tears.

Threatening

To unleash

An emotional tsunami

Upon my soul. 

Knowing

Tomorrow is

November 20th

Day of Trans-Remembrance.

Which

My community

Remembers those

Were murdered.

Or driven

To their deaths.

Praying

It's the last time

We must gather

And read off 

New names.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: Around the world, the Trans-community will be observing Day of Trans-Remembrance, on November 20th, for our brothers and sisters, who died, at the hands of others. In Toronto, The 519 will marking this event, from 4-8 pm, at 519 Church St., Toronto, Ontario.

From Meaning, To Reality (October 4, 2016)

Freedom

Is not

Just a word.

But

A human right.

To live your life

Without terror

Or fear.

Go to school

Without being abused

In any form.

To walk

Outside your home

Without being attacked

Or killed.

Sadly

Freedom is

A wishful dream

For many transpeople.

As we gather

On November 20th

To remember those

Who were killed.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: This poem was inspired by, the title, of a young adult book, Freedom's Just Another Word, standing in display, at my local library. 

Opening Up One's Eyes (November 7, 2015)

Courtesy of www.newwayministery.wordpress.com

In my mind

The old Negro gospel

"We shall overcome"

Is being sung

Before my eyes.

Looking back

More than 60 years

In the struggle

For Civil Rights

And true equality.

Of the many senseless deaths

Which mark

Our journey forward

From the darkness

Of hate and fear.

Despite

The many legal battles

Fought and won.

Still

I feel like

A third class citizen

In the country

I was born

In.

With it's rigid hierarchy

That places

Anyone

Who is different

On the outside

Looking in.

Tolerating us

Like a boorish family member

They want

To disappear.

I wish

You could experience

A week

In my shoes.

Confronting

The societal

And institutional barriers

You've erected

Over the centuries.

In keeping

Yourself

Safe

From the reality

Of my life.

Realizing

Your position of power

Is paid.

At a heavy price

By people

Like myself.


Therisa © 2015

Author's note: This is, one of two poems that I wrote for Day of Trans-Remembrance, November 20, 2015. The other one, titled, "The Crater", is in the process of having a clay ceramic statue being created, as I write this. Am hoping, I can have it painted and done, its second and final firing. Thus, being able to post together, here.


For those, who are just discovering me, I have survived numerous attempts on my life, from a family member, whom I have broken off, all ties with, since August 2007. Also, have threatened, by various individuals, who have chased me, on foot or by rode the back of my legs, with their car, while laughing, about it. As if, it was one huge joke, with me, being the punch line, to it.


And sadly, I have tried, on numerous occasions, to take my life, when my depression has reached, such dark levels, the bottom of the Black Sea is a brilliantly lit walk, in the park, by comparison. With my last attempt occurring, during the holiday season of 2010-11.