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TRANSGENDER ANTHEM by Jennifer Wenn


EDITOR'S NOTE: Today, we offer you a poem in honor of The Transgender Day of Remembrance which is observed annually, today, on November 20th, as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transphobia. The day was founded in 1999 to draw attention to the continued violence endured by transgender people, and as a call to replace it with peace and compassion.

  

Transgender Anthem


by Jennifer Wenn


 

Since time immemorial,

revealed or hidden,

self-aware or suppressed,

we have been here.

 

Through pain, confusion and joy,

tearing at contrary, shrouding shells,

we have been here.

 

We follow paths

indescribable and incredible,

yearning to shine forth

our extraordinary iridescence,

and we are here.

 

We are the convention-shakers,

                  mould-breakers,

                     trailblazers,

and we are here!

 

We are not an illness

                     or a theory

                     or a debating point;

We are flesh and blood,

marvellous souls and children of the cosmos, 

and we are here!

 

We are dismissed by the ignorant,

              stared at by the fear-blind,

              assailed because we dare to

              disturb comfortable prejudices,

but we are here!

 

We are scared yet courageous,

              despised yet loved,

              weary yet striding on,

and we are here!

 

We are children and parents,

              siblings and spouses,

              friends and lovers,

              colleagues and neighbours,

              poor and well-off,

and we are here!

 

Hatred fells some of us

but we remain unshakeable

                           unbreakable

        bright, blazing beacons of

        a new, rediscovered spirit,

and we absolutely,

              emphatically,

              now and forever

Will Be Here!


(This poem originally appeared in Tuck Magazine) 




Jennifer Wenn is a trans-identified writer and speaker from London, Ontario. Her first poetry chapbook, A Song of Milestones, has been published by Harmonia Press (an imprint of Beliveau Books). Upcoming is her first full-length poetry collection, Hear Through the Silence (from Cyberwit). She has also written From Adversity to Accomplishment, a family and social history; and published poetry in Beliveau Review, The Ekphrastic Review, Watchyourhead, Open Minds Quarterly, Tuck Magazine, Synaeresis, Big Pond Rumours, the League of Canadian Poets Fresh Voices, Wordsfestzine, and the anthologies Dénouement and Things That Matter.  She is also the proud parent of two adult children. You may visit her website by clicking here. 


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