Poetry With Hart

Not many people know this but
when you first came out
you told your parents first.
Not your birth parents
but the ones who helped raise you
woke up at night to settle you down
changed your diapers
taught you how to ride a tricycle
albeit very badly (sorry for the concussion,
a discussion for another time)
you know, your other parents
who taught you the best way to eat ramen noodles
your brother and I.

Not many people know this but
I was so happy that my wish finally came true
that my parents had given me a sister
all along after all
and that she was strong enough
to declare to the world
“this is me, this is who I am
and there ain’t nothing you suckers can do about it!”
and that she felt safe enough to come out
and tell her brother and I.

Not many people know this but
I cried later on that night
because you told me
that when you were looking for inspiration
for how you saw yourself
as a woman, what you wanted
the her, the you to look like
the inspiration for what a woman
was to you, was me.
Not the me you see before you now
the tired bookkeeper with dark shadows
under her eyes only half hidden by
her really crooked glasses
desperately in need of repairs.

No the one you saw was the me then
the fierce feminine fury that raged
across every page of poetry saying
“this is me, this is who I am
and there ain’t nothing you suckers can do about it”
the I wear skirts and dresses
not because its pretty no
but because it makes it that much easier
to kick their ass when they start talking
down to me, see fuckin thru me
talk at me, not to me
misunderstand me even I do speak
fucking eloquently, shit

Not many people know this but
your idea of womanhood was me
who at the time could’ve been
mistaken for Joan Jett
your idea of womanhood was feral and unafraid

Not many people know this but
that’s who I see you as
that’s the woman, my sister
that I have watched you grow
and transition to become
the kind of woman I was
when I was younger
and wish to become again
and you’ve given me the inspiration
to transition back into being again.

Not many people know this but
I’m so proud of you sister…
I guess now everyone will.

Happy Birthday Heather
I love you sis!