Show and Tell 1 and 2

 

For my first show and tell, I am presenting my free verse poem titled “Who I Am” which is the second iteration of a free verse poem I submitted to The Rage magazine on-campus. This free verse poem perfectly defines how I feel as a transgender woman not only in the south but in America. It is a constant fight between both sides/communities as they each try to mold me into their ideal trans-woman. I was lost in an endless cycle of toxic psychological, emotional, and verbal abuse that it was to escape from those metaphysical shackles. I did not want to be defined by my exterior. I did not want people to write my life story based on what I am lacking physically. I want people to recognize me for my strength, my journey, my resilience, and everything it took to get me here. Being transgender for me is not just about transitioning, but also transcending. 

For my second show and tell, I am presenting a painting I did on a live lily titled “Gentle Warrior.” This idea came from when my romantic partner was getting me my favorite flowers every weekend and all I was doing was watching them die. So instead, one day I decided to paint it but painting a beautiful scenic moment felt not right. Instead, I decided to paint on top of it what would depict humanistic bodily harm which represents how something so beautiful/gentle/fragile can also experience pain. I based it on my childhood trauma as I was born pure and the abuse/hurt was placed upon me. And it still stays with me as I wither away into existence as the flower is also doing with time. I discovered that as it dies the paint cracked and chips away, unearthing a brand new flower yet it is dead/grey. Leaving behind pieces of the pain as it lives its last moments of life as a lily.