The Stonewall Inheritancy (June 4, 2019)

We are

The children

Who inherit

Stonewall's legacy.

Whether or not

We want it.

A world

Where our wildest dreams

And nightmares

Can come true.

As we step

Out of the closet

Into the light.

Knowing

True acceptance

Is a gift earned.

Not given

On a silver platter

By politicians seeking points

From the voting public.

In fighting

For everyone's freedom.

Not just

The LGBTQ+ community.

Shall we inherit

What true freedom means

For a compassionate

And understanding society.

Leaving nobody behind

In pain and suffering

Whenever possible.

Even if

As a nation

We must endure

A demagogue

In political power.

Therisa © 2019

New Pages (August 17, 2018)

Dear Diary;

I've found it

Perfect place

Bully-free

And other nice things.

Where freedom

Isn't a word

Inside dictionary.

Curiosity

Encouraged

And nurtured.

Real place

Dream and explore

Soul’s desire.

Step aside

If only

For brief moments

Life's hardships.

Knowing

Within these walls

Sanctuary exist

Without being told.

Awe-filling empowerment

Small rural child

Awakening self-knowledge

And understanding.

Young fingers

Reverently touch

Shelved library books.

Therisa © 2018

Author’s note: It took 2 days of off and on searching to find the correct spelling of Moxy Fruvous, to find this video that I remembered listening to on CBC Radio, while at university.

The Road Taken (January 8, 2016)

Never thought

I would be

Looking back

In a positive way.

On losing

My apartment

And ending up

In a homeless shelter.

Knowing

I can laugh

About it

Now.

Never realizing

How big

Of a barrier

Moving to Toronto

Would be.

Physically

And psychologically

In my liberation

Of you

Mom.

In beginning

My life

Anew

As a woman.

No longer

Needing to hide

In the darkest gender closet

Filled with fear

Of being discovered.

Will admit

I wasn't prepared

For the culture shock

That greeted me

At the woman's homeless shelter.

Struggling

With chronic anxiety attacks

And depression

In a brutal environment

Like a fish

Out of water.

Especially

Being pre-everything

In regards

To my transitioning.

Beyond knowing

My true name

Therisa.

Taking extra precautions

So no one saw

My ugly male body.

Unless

Fully dressed.

Dreading

Someone would see

Or react

To me

As a male.

Knowing

I wouldn't survive

In a man's homeless shelter

Without being raped

Or brutally beaten up.

Never

Feeling safe.

Until

I had my own apartment

Again.

To further

My self-exploration

Of the feminine side.

Learning

My true self.


Therisa © 2016

Author Note: June 3, 2007, found myself, at the front door, of a woman's homeless shelter, in downtown Toronto, with a suitcase and duffel bag, filled with woman's clothing. Interesting enough, my mom never asked me, if I wanted to move out, to the country, until I got myself, back on my feet, again. A move, in retrospective, would have signed my death warrant, given her negative reaction, to coming out to her, as a trans-lesbian. Being forced to be dependant on her, for transportation for all of my medical appointment.