AFTER HOURS: A Poem

Each verse is an individual experience of working transgender women over the years of their existence as they still struggle to find a place and a voice in the midst of the ever-judging, self-absorbed society.

Stop. Stare. Shake it off,

Stop. Stare for one last glimpse,

A glimpse is all he can afford,

For fear of society,

For fear of society handed “morality”,

Too bad I think ‘cause,

I’m exquisite.

Too normal

What is “normal?”

No, you know it’s just not out there.

What is “not out there?”

How you are…

Exquisite? I finish,

Half and half he blurts.

I can only do this with you,

I love you,

Only you understand me,

And what about me huh?

But that’s not my job,

Then how can you say only I get you,

Pays and leaves.

How’ s your daughter?

Hmmm?

Your daughter?

These cupcakes were made by my wife.

Please, help yourself,

Yes, yes, Trump is troubling my mind too,

Daughter-aversion mission accomplished by my father,

Me averted from the public eye.

For society,

For your father and me,

For your family,

What family? Nobody knows me,

For yourself then,

I’m fine the way I am mom,

I’m not changing for anybody. I accept me.

I like staying in shape,

Screaming in Robert Downey Jr. movies,

Hanging out at the mall with my friends,

Shopping and eating ice cream,

Really?

Yes ‘cause I’m human,

Really??

Cream,

Powder,

Foundation,

Little blush,

Feather brushed across,

Mascara,

Lipstick,

For a fuller smile,

For an enrapturing wink,

I’m now ready as the true me goes to face the true world,

After hours.

I’m a transgender woman,

And I am proud of it,

Not going to change ‘cause your tiny minds and concepts can’t fathom me,

I’m not an idea or an opinion or hapless,

Waiting to be rescued,

I am me. No different from you,

I might not fit into a limiting box of gender,

Doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be treated

With the same basic human courtesy and decency as anyone else,

I’m different in your eyes,

And so are you in my eyes.