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.

Just Being Me (June 7, 2018)

Throughout the years

You've been my anchor

That's held me

Upright.

During those stormy nights

My body awashed

Against the rocky shores

Of life.

When Death stood

By my side

A constant companion

During the dark years.

Where gender identity

Is a littered battleground

With too many bodies stolen

Before their time.

As baby blue

And passionate pink tears

Flow together

In a bitter white stream.

Want to scream

At the top of my voice

“Fuck you assholes"

To all of society.

But know

Society will never understand

My anger and hurt

I'm releasing.

A body trapped

Between two genders

Never fully one

Or the other.

And yet

You've been

The one

I've sought out.

Knowing

The crippling barriers

Society has erected

Against someone

Like myself.

In transitioning

Like a butterfly

From the cocoon

Of my male pupa.

Therisa © 2018

Author's note: I would like to remind everyone that the “T” in LGBTQ+, stands for transgender, which many people forget. When they talk about issues that affects the entire community, a whole. As if, we’re the forgotten sibling, when talking about equality for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Please remember this, as your local community celebrates PRIDE.