(not) what you want me to be
a nonbinary poem about resisting transnormativity
I am the kid trans and cis folks don’t want to deal with
I have changed my name at least eight times, and each one is/is not correct
Transition then de-transition then transition again
I am the point at which "switching" is incomprehensible,
a position in which I am/am not sexed
I am purposely hard to read as is this prose,
I am night-time LED screens’
Red-eyed hairy-lipped identity-making political meme-machine victim
I am what the YouTube comments read on the TRANS-TRENDER clickbait
what the doctors want what the report to say,
what the TSA guesses,
what you want me to be, that is,
if and only if you want me to be,
if not impossible
I am the one you that didn’t want to see die on Trans Day of Remembrance
(I abject, therefore I am not)
I am one and at once still here I am still here I am still here I am still here I am
About the Creator
mx. j. nyla mcneill
mx. j. nyla mcneill is a Black-pinxy, queer and trans polymath.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Comments (2)
I love that you told your story in the form of a poem. We featured your poem in our new Facebook group for Queer voices on vocal.
love the last line <3