United - Strong (June 24, 2018)

Overhead

Gathering storm clouds form

The darkening sky mirrors

A troubled soul

Seeking answers and safety.

While neither exist

Beyond a brief moment

Like a lightning flash

In the distance horizon

Before vanishing.

Sudden downpour

From the heavens above

Like long suppressed tears

Held in check

Soak the parched land

Needing fluids and healing.

From a world that views it

Visible sign of weakness

By a diseased soul

In need of correction

At any costs.

Destroying the soul

That's fought over

In the healing process

Vainly preserving

Society's false status quo.

At what price

Does the cost outweighs

The cure’s end?

As the coroner pulls away

Loaded with the remains

Of another victim

From society’s homophobia

And racism.

Therisa © 2018

Author's note: I started writing this poem, on the rainy Sunday morning of Toronto's Pride parade (June 24, 2018). As they honour the 8 confirmed gay male victims of alleged mass murderer, Bruce McArthur. While Toronto Police Service say, there may be more victims and charges, before the investigation is done.

Another poem for this year’s  Pride Poetry.

Therisa Ascending (March 2, 2017)

From the smothering

Testosterone tainted ashes

I emerge

Once more.

As I brush off

Various remnants 

From my past life

Off my soul.

Knowing

A long road

Awaits me.

In my sojourn

As a woman.

Wiping away

Those bitter tears

Where hate reign

Supreme.

Surprising myself

With how far

I have travelled

In the past decade.

In finding

Courage and strength

To be honest and true

With myself and others.

Knowing

There are others

Who'll oppose

This journey

Of self-discovery

And healing.

On ignorance

Alone.

Pity.

Therisa © 2017

Author's note: Wednesday, March 2, 2007, marks the last day that I have worked when I quit my job, as the result of transphobic pressure, applied to me, by the company that I worked, for then. Basically, I had to fight, to attend a peer support group, that met twice, every month, except for December, as the group took that month off. Wasn't unusual for one of the company drivers, to make homophobic comments and jokes, as I worked. 

Over the past 10 years, I lost my apartment, lived in a homeless shelter, been on welfare and now, a provincial disability support program, for my chronic depression, anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, and PTSD. I have learned coping strategies, in dealing, with my various mental illness, and seeking closure, to my abusive past that I have suppressed, for most of my life, without realizing it, until my mental barriers collapsed, on August 14, 2007, when I experienced a 26 hour long panic attack, triggered, during a morning rush hour ride, on the TTC subway line 1. Since then, I have tried to avoid any appointments that placed me, on the TTC, during rush hour, whether it be morning or afternoon.

Am sharing this, with you, to show how far, I have travelled, in the past decade, and how much, is still left to be done, before I can rejoin society and earn my way, as a productive member, able to help others, with my experiences and knowledge. 

Beyond The Pale (October 26, 2016) Inbox x

How can you

Be objective

In judging me?

When you don't know

Who I am

Or the experience

I have lived.

And yet

You sit

In absolute judgement

Condemning me

On sight

Alone.

Having never uttered

A single word

To you.

Tell me

Where is

Your impartiality?

To you

I am 

An offending piece

Of human flesh

That's condemned

To Hell.

Why?

For challenging

Your notion

On what gender

And sexuality

Means.

In defiling

What the "Holy Book" says

Is acceptable

For society.

Thing is

I don't believe

In this Book.

Or those

Who wrote it.

Sad part is

Your very actions

Goes against

The holy Book

Itself.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: Its interesting, how it's those, who protested the loudest, are the ones, who are guilty of the crime, they claim others are committing against them.And for the record, I have experience this reaction, several times, from total strangers, re-inforcing my feelings, for not following one of the three major religions.