Family of Trans

Talons raised, like an eagle ready to strike
Strength within surging, searching for an outlet
Feeling invincible, needing to shout from a high place
Shouting look at me, see all that i am and have become

We will not be kept down, or be trampled under foot
We are proud of our uniqueness, proud of our completeness
Our strength shines bright, knowing we are beautiful
Our genders shift, flow, reverse from what our bodies tell us

And we shine, we are the diamonds of Trans, stars so bright
We blind many, with our gifts, our skills and passion
Our hearts are open to all that will see, deep and full of love
We are the stars in the sky at night, the sparkle of the seas

We are the family of Trans, we are beautiful and strong.

by Lj Mark, 2015

"i'm okay," she says to everyone.
her nights were nothing but wet sheets and wailing walls.

"i'm fine," she tells everybody.
her room is filled with nothing but a crying voice and a hopeless soul.

"i'm happy," she proclaims to all.
her wrists more crimson than brown and her eyes more red than white.

"goodbye. i'm sorry," she begs.

**And that was when all knew that she wasn't really okay at all.

Clouds overhead pouring with freezing rain.
On this long winter night, wrapped in shadows.
She sits alone pondering her thoughts and woes.
Aimlessly staring at the approaching train.

She's thinking of every word he ever said.
Remembering her wrists running with red.
How did everything so quickly turn to ****?
But she knows... and is too afraid to admit...

With the morning, the sun breaks through the cloud-cast.
Shining brightly and warmly as if it was a summer breeze.
Suddenly the moments here, for a long time it seems to last.
And she's stuck to the bench frozen solid in her memories.

As the train passes by, she looks down then smiles.
She's made up her mind, she's going to stay awhile.
And on that morning, she got up from where she'd lain.
465 days was how long it took for things to be okay again.