I'm tired.
I'm tired of it taking more mental energy
and self confidence for us to go out in public,
than it does most people.
I don't blame a person, or religion,
its much more than that.
I blame society in general, its peer pressure,
It's structure designed to keep everyone
in small boxes, all thinking the same.
I blame manufacturer's for making every item
we buy gendered male or female,
Just to sell more and make more money.
I blame the media for its lies and ignorance
when reporting about us..
And I blame us is some ways for allowing it.
I blame myself for not doing more,
but I'm just too tired of fighting, struggling
and having to do it all again tomorrow.
I'm Transgender.. And I get tired.

by Lj Mark 2015

You may be the sine qua non in my every breathing.

We're pushed away and stepped over
When we're not being scoffed at and ridiculed
We wonder where our strength comes from
How we get up over and over and over again

Trans or Gay, or sometimes both
We all get treated the same
Hurt by words that get thrown at us
So often that only tears remain

But strong we are, those that are left
Too many gone, from pain and distrust
We take a breath, wipe off the spit
And keep fighting to live another day

The world cries for unity, for rights and equality
But somehow we always seem to lose
The rights and equality seemed destined for us
Given to those the majority choose to see

We sink in our hearts, hold on to each others hands
Dreary of the battle, left empty from the fight
Trans and Gay, stand arm in arm
Ready for tomorrow, hoping for an end to the fight.

by Lj Mark, 2015

I don't think of my past very often these days
So much has changed in me in so many ways
The person i was, no trace of him remains
In fact his gender is gone too, in his place is a dame

Deep in my mind I've discovered the truth
That trying to always be a man was an error of my youth
I hid it from the world year after year
But I've come out as trans, and its perfectly clear

And I'm happy now, full of kindness and love
On a journey I've started like none I've dreamed of
With all the things in my life that mean most
I'm seldom reminded of all my old ghosts

But sometimes I remember smiles of my past
Friendships long ago that I thought might last
And its okay that they haven't, I don't really mind
Most are forgotten, or lost for all time

This poem is to one, I think of sometimes
Her name is Fran, and some fun times we had
But decades have passed, all of us have changed
I was just hoping she was well, and living her dreams

To Fran, from Mark

by Lj Mark 2015