Secret Agent Gurl (May 4, 2016)

Like a spy

On a dangerous mission

Slipping through life

Over two years

In the deepest cover.

Living the stress

Of a dual life

Straddling
The gender divide.

One foot

Firmly

In the closet.

My nerves

And senses

Hyper-vigilant.

Every knock

Upon my door
Sent hiding

My feminine self.

Knowing

Society frowns

Upon "males"

In dresses.

Something

I've learnt

The hard way

As the memories

Of being trans-bashed

Lingers.

Those drive-by slurs

Whether transphobic

Or homophobic.

Doesn't just evaporate

Into thin air

Like dry ice does.

However

I wish

They would.

Is it

Any wonder

So many trans-people

Attempt suicide.

Given

This warm reception

From society.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: From 2005, until June 2007, I walked the narrow dividing line, between male and female, when I lost my apartment, and was forced, into a woman's homeless shelter, in Toronto. As I had to physically move, to Toronto, from Brampton (about 30 minute drive, by car) , for there are no shelters there that are aimed, to help the trans-community, like Toronto has done. It's ironic, by losing my housing freedom, I have gained, the freedom to dress, in my true self, as a woman, full time, 24/7/365.


For more information, about the daily struggles that the trans-community faces, please click on the following link: http://www.vocativ.com/culture/lgbt/transgender-suicide/

Why I Hate Applesauce (March 18, 2016)

Once more

I find myself

Back

In the village

Of Erin, Ontario.

As if

The sands of Time

Had shifted backwards

Thirty-eight years.

To that fateful day

In 1978

When I learnt

A harsh lesson

In anxiety.

For I had shattered

My latest bully's

Front upper teeth

At the gum line.

A sobbing wretch

I arrived home.

With my broken

Thor lunchbox

And soiled winter jacket

Covered

In applesauce.

Can still hear

Those little angels

That surrounded us

Demonically

Calling for blood.

In the kitchen

Did the fight

Unfold

To my mom.

Between sobs

And blowing

My running nose.

Over

The next month

Or so.

We waited

For the dreaded knock

From the OPP

At the front door.

Charging me

With assault

Causing bodily harm.

Nothing happened

Except

Robbie (the bully)

And his family

Moved to Calgary.

(As reported

By the grapevine).

Never saw him

Again

That I know of

Beyond

The flashbacks.

Therisa © 2016

Fortress Europa (January 9, 2016)

www.caef.org.uk

By land or sea

They come

In seeking

The "Promise Land".

Like the Jews

Being led

By Aaron.

Heading north

And west

At great peril

And cost.

In money

And lives lost.

Only

To find

A desolate land

Filled with hate

And fear.

As spools

After spools

Of razor wire

Is strung

Across the land.

Bringing back

Darker memories

Of a deadlier time.

When

An "iron curtain" draped

Across Europe.

In turning

A relative "peaceful" continent

Into an armed camp

With twitchy fingers

On triggers.

As the dead bodies

Wash ashore

In the Mediterranean

And Aegean Seas.


Therisa © 2016

Author's notes: As a Canadian, from the safe haven, of my apartment, living afar, from the developing situation, in Europe, it's so easy, for me, to critique, the actions of the various European nations have taken, in regards, to the flood of African and Asian immigrants and refugees, over the past 5 years. Especially, after extreme violence that has gripped France, Belgium and to, a lesser degree, Germany, over the past year.


As Politicians and right wing extremists have been quick, to blame IS and thus, by extension, the growing Muslim population, who are, the grandchildren and great grandchildren, of migrant workers and refugees, who fled colonial wars, during the 1960s. Have grown frustrated, with the current political and economic system that offers no hope of improvement, by turning to alternative solutions, like extreme Islamic beliefs. This political backlash is fuelling, the growing feeling of xenophobia and isolationism, among these "native" populations.


I realize, there are no quick solutions, this growing unrest, but it's time, for politicians to act, and take decisive action, for the current system has shown itself, to be flawed, and in serious need of overhaul, if Europe wants to avoid the racial riots, like the United States did, during the 1960s. A plan, which meet the needs, of each individual country and not patchwork affair, which only covers up, the gaping holes of European society. Important ideas that have worked, in Canada, but doesn't take into account, the historical problems of decolonialization and dealing with a multicultural society of today.