ALL THE MISSING SWEETNESS
Forgive me for crying and screaming
in my bedroom, refusing to pile into the car
making us late for every high holiday service
forgive me for stepping on my neighbors toes
as we found four seats in the synagogue together
forgive me and I’ll forgive you
for forcing me into a skirt
not paying attention when I didn’t
break the fast, for letting me eat
apples raw, without dipping them
in honey first, which I now squeeze into
my cup every morning, trying to recover
all the missing sweetness
from every passing year.
TRANS DAY OF REVENGE
After G.L.O.S.S.
on trans day of revenge,
cis people will come out as cis
use the wrong restroom, be called
by the wrong name, lose a job
for being cis, be the only cis
in the family, fail to pass as cis
never feel cis enough
on trans day of revenge,
all books about cis people
will disappear, cis characters
will be played by trans actors
the news will only talk about
trans people, the train will be
crowded with trans workers
on trans day of revenge,
playgrounds will be full
of trans children laughing
learning and loving
isn’t that the best
revenge.
***
Photograph of H. Melt by Elmer Martinez.
