Skirtingroundmylife

Two Brides

In this poem I examine how conservative men of a certain age react to change to in very negative ways and why this is particularly true when it comes to disability and LGBT issues. I’ve titled it Two Brides at the suggestion of my friend and award winning poet Sheila Templeton. I hope you enjoy the read

Two Brides

Tired old men with tired old lines
wearing last century’s fashion crimes
tired old men singing yesterday’s songs
as they whine and complain
on society’s wrongs

Now the world has been changing
while the angry stood still
bitter, frustrated and too old to kill
pale stale and macho
afraid to move on
they take comfort in memories
of a thousand false dawns

They exist in a bubble
where misogyny rules
and racism’s fine
if it isn’t too cruel
disabled transwomen
could never exist
they would never be fucked
with a woman like this

The news that they watch
is on constant repeat
where all women bow
at the cave dwellers feet
where the Flintstones is viewed
as essential TV
and they just couldn’t cope
with a woman like me

And I’m happy to say
that they’ll never get the chance
if I ever get married
it’s an all women dance
it was nature’s decision
it’s the way it was meant to be
as two brides kiss each other
in the 21st century

Honey And Lemon

I wrote this poem especially to celebrate lesbian visibility day. I titled Honey And Lemon and it may explain at least to some extent why I’ve always taken the cautious approach to my sexuality and why tan tights and twin sets might actually work for me.

Honey And Lemon

Purple was the colour
of the dress I wore
that night
the night I walked on eggshells
and danced on frosty pavements.
In my head, I heard my mother’s voice echo
carving my thoughts
like dad carved the Sunday roast
as you tempted me to explore the ways of sapphic desires
I was scared to move in
for the kiss I knew I wanted
haunted by shadows of shame
I blamed myself for daring to believe
you would want a woman like me
now I realise it was fear
that stopped me dancing.
I have long since moved on
from walking on eggshells
on cold night autumn nights
I have ceased fighting with myself
though I’m no longer able to fit in to that dress
I just want to tell you
if you still want to dance with me
purple is colour of the lingerie
I’ll be wearing when you move in for the kiss
and I enjoy it the way a woman does
tasting both the honey and the lemon
as the bees fly around the flowers of our dreams

Judged

In this poem I share my thoughts on walking alone at night and the fears it can bring to mind for any woman let alone a transwoman of a certain age. I’ve given it the title Judged I believe it shows why no man should ever make judgements on anyone without knowing them. I hope you enjoy the read

Judged

On walking the midnight streets
I feel I’m being judged
by insignificant others
my mother always said
empty drums make the loudest noises
so why when voices
puncture the late night air
do I fear for my safety ?
panicking when random words and phrases
are aimed at women and girls
I know I walk faster when I hear wolfe whistles
which I know can’t be directed at me
nobody sees my fear
I disguise it with habits learned young
It is not my bum they talk of pinching
it is not my breasts
they devour with their eyes or constant gaze
I continue my journey
to safer spaces
though I am all too aware
on a different night
I could be the one
they prey on
under the blanket of stars
but the ones who would judge me
will see fit to deliver their verdict
not realising their wives and girlfriends
would be far more suited
to my kisses.

Lady In Waiting

I wrote this poem for Lesbian Visibility Week and I’ve titled it Lady In Waiting. I hope you enjoy the read

Lady In Waiting

She was always the one
to step up and do her duty
without complaint
showing commendable
restraint
as she dreamed of ladies days at Ascot and Wimbledon
respectable was her way for all occasions
as a lady in waiting
no-one would have ever have guessed
the secret she kept
locked beneath her dress

society was much stricter then
there were no pride marches or rainbow flags in her day
it just wasn’t the way of the world
but of course times change
now women love women
and girls love girls
just as nature intended
if that is the road mapped out for their desires

having reached the autumn of her years
she takes comfort in the fact
no-one saw the tears
which led to summer floods
and caused so much pain
she wears bold colours
and statement tights
they shout loud and proud
such things would never have been allowed
in her youth
she was born in a body which felt like a cage

Now she claims her stage
though it’s taken her longer to dance
as the woman she is
than it did for others
later than she would have liked
she has discovered herself
her emotional health is better than ever
she realises her truth
and it’s better late than never
she won’t be wished away
no matter the opinions of others
especially those who shout at the moon

Now she sings freely
the songs she wants to sing
she will respect herself in the morning
and without warning
kiss her girlfriend
whilst waiting for a bus
or at a picnic in the park with only two invitations
she is happy now
accepting no limitations she is proud of who she is and always has been
she needs no seal of approval nor even consent
she is content to enjoy the taste of lipstick
as she and her lover share a tender moment

this is her time to be herself
to make the memories denied in her earlier years
now smiles replace the tears
the lady in waiting who watched songs of praise
says a prayer and steps up to do her duty
singing hymns of thanks to Sappho
she breaks bread with the girls
and prepares to sip the wine.

Daughters Of Sappho

Recently I attended the first in a series of three LGBT creative workshops and this is the poem that came out of it . I’ve titled it Daughters Of Sappho. I hope you enjoy the read

Daughters Of Sappho

Still waters look deceptively quiet
under the midnight stars
the moon sees secrets
disguised under covers of dark two men glance
using glares as their shields of safety
and women kiss discreetly
before passion calls to nature
telling them it’s safe to embrace
we will all be conditioned
by behaviour learned at school
we girls stick to the rules
for fear of being caught,
shamed, blamed for society’s ills
until passion speaks to our hearts
then knowing the part we must play
we narrate our queer stories
letting the lunar goddess
take us where she will
as daughters of sappho
meanwhile still waters
look deceptively quiet
as hormones run riot
two lipsticks blend as one.

Belle Of The Ball

There is no escaping the fact that I’ve been inspired by LGBTQ History Month, so inspired in fact that I’ve written this poem on topic of dancing especially to commerorate the event. I’ve deliberatly written it from the point of view of two mature women one of whom may be a transwoman, becoming romantically involved after meeting at a dancing class. I’ve given it the title Belle Of The Ball I hope you enjoy the read.

Belle Of The Ball

my partner birls me round the floor
I’m feeling apprehensive
she told me relax
as she takes me in hand
and whispers something io
says she knew that I was just the right type
she would teach the steps and the twirls
from that moment on
I gave her my trust
I knew she liked dancing with girls

Of course she’d been married
for most of her life
the respectable types
always are
she knew she liked women
she had since her teens
though she thought it a step too far
as she taught me to waltz
as a women should do
and to tango the
Argentine way
we kissed under stars
and got in to the grove
our desires had come to play

she told me her daughters encouraged her
to take up dancing lessons
the youngest one said she should talk to the priest
and maybe start going to confession
it’s just in case you meet a man
who gets you all excited
or maybe do what Katie did
like kiss a girl and like it.

my dancing partner smiled at the thought
as her youngest daughter blushed
I’ll just see how it goes she said
and enjoy some fun filled lust
her daughters thought that we were friends
until they saw us kiss
in ways that only women know
we shared some midnight bliss

She told them all it’s my time now
it’s time to take a chance
your dad would be so proud of the fact
I taught this girl to dance
he knew I had my tendencies
and the passions I kept at bay
he said that I should dance with girls
if that was nature’s way

As its if he was giving his blessing
she told me as we danced
she’d waited all her life for this
we had to take the chance
a woman knows what a woman knows
and she knew what to say
I felt like the belle of The ball that night
and we danced to the break of the day

Teas And Coffees

As it’s LGBTQ History Month. I’ve written this poem on a true story of the kindness I received from an unlikely source. I’ve titled Teas And Coffees I hope you enjoy the read.

Teas And Coffees

I was told by a well meaning friend of the family
not to concern myself with girls
I was she said more likely to end up as one
than ever be kissed by any
how my mother’s pal discovered
a secret I tried to hide
was something she shared with me
later
it was she claimed the way I looked at them
and the way I looked at boys
nature made your choice
and there is nothing you can do
to change it
so you might as well embrace it
she whispered
while my mum was in the kitchen
making teas and coffees
you need to be honest with the world
and with yourself
as she handed me a parcel containing a bra, two packs of tights
a few pairs of pink frilly knickers
you’ll be needing these she claimed
saying I know you’re not gay
you’re far too ladylike for that.

Skirting Round My Life 2021 My Year On The Blog

As I look back on the events of 2021 I have to say that it wasn’t the year I or anyone hoped or expected it would be. These past 12 months have been a difficult year for us all and this continues to be reflected in Skirting Round My Life as it has in every blog, journal , magazine or other news outlets.

On looking at the statistics, this year has seen Skirting Round My Life on a bit of downward trajectory which I think was to be expected given the circumstances. Hopefully this will change in the next 12 months. Though that will, to a certain extent at least, depend on things opening up a bit post Covid and providing me with more opportunities to enjoy myself and post about my exciting experiences.

The first thing to say that Skirtingroundmylife gained 2, 507 views in 2020. This represented an drop of 16% from it’s 2020 total of 3,018. Though disappointed with the drop I am not in the least bit surprised as continued uncertainty from Covid19 played havoc with our lives and restrictions on what we could and couldn’t do meant opportunities for growth were very severely limited.

This lack of opportunity resulted in a very dramatic drop in the number of posts in the last twelve months as they fell by almost half from 98 to 50. It can also be said that the number of both visitors to the site and comments on posts are both down with the later dropping from 28 to 16 and likes falling by more than 60% from 83 to 36

Topics covered in the last twelve months included Acceptance, Age, Bisexuality, Childhood, Christmas, Coming Out, Ceilidhs, Concerts, Covid19, Crossdressers, Dancing , Dating, Death, Discrimination, Equality, Faith, Fashion, Friendship, Grandparents, Holidays, Lockdown, Love, Memories, Mental Health, Poetry, Relationships, Secrets, Sensuality, Sex, Sexism, Sexuality, Stereotypes, Transition, Transphobia, Visibility, Women,

2021 again saw a slight dip in my global reach as visiting nations were slightly down from 31 in 2020 to 27 last year. The top five countries were UK , USA, Ireland, Germany and Finland, with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Guernsey, and Sweden. making up the top ten. There were also readers from countries including France, Croatia The Philippines, Denmark, Colombia, Peru, Norway, India, and Poland amongst other nations who paid this a visit

As all the statistics have now properly evaluated it is time to bring this review to its conclusion but before I do so I just want thank all my readers. Whether you subscribe to the site or read the posts on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter it doesn’t really matter, the main thing is that you read them and find them entertaining, enjoyable , thought provoking and maybe in some cases challenging. I really hope you’ll continue to do so as that’s what makes blogging so enjoyable for those us who put our opinions out there on the blogosphere for you to read. So all that remains is for me to wish you A Happy, Successful, and Peaceful New Year and I hope you’ll keep skirting round my life throughout 2022 and beyond .

Till next time

Gayle X

Sunset Years

This is my new poem on the topic of ageing I’ve given it the title Sunset Years I hope you enjoy the read.

Sunset Years

When the envelope arrived
in the morning post
I was hit by a bolt from the blue
I turned white as a ghost
as my travel card came with no date by which to renew
It dawned on me I’m a old girl now
but I won’t be held hostage to fears
this is my journey
to make my time mine
It’s the start of my sunset years

Now alas my new card
had no sign for companion
so I paused for a moment to think
I had dreamed of the day I’d go back to the dancing
as my face turned a bright shade of pink
it was time to get my big girl pants on
a time to accept my reality
well look at Madonna
she’s older than me
and she’s always prepared for new challenges.

If I could just be more like her
you never know who I’d impress
I really must stop being frightened of fate
and be open to what it suggests . well I’ll show I’ve still got it
in my little black dress
and that fishnets look good on my legs
they’ll be no second prizes for me anymore
all I ask is a little respect

so it’s time to make my sixties swing
and let my dreams run riot
It’s ballroom not clubbing
that’s that’s this woman’s thing
and I’m not in the mood to be quiet
not for me the easy choice
I’ll raise my hemline and my voice
well it’s my life and I’ll enjoy
the days of my sunset years.

Pioneer

In this poem I celebrate the life of April Ashley. April for those who don’t know, made history by becoming the first person to ever undergo gender reassignment surgery. I’ve given it the title Pioneer, I hope you enjoy the read

Pioneer

You paved the way
for girls like me
to be women
your name of choice
selected to illustrate
the transformative change
which takes place when winter winds retreat
to be replaced by the first days of spring.

you were a woman
who wasn’t allowed to be a girl
because of the times you grew up in
a child of the inter war years
people feared those like you
a pioneer who wanted just to be herself .

after your operation
you married well
mixed in influential circles
yet those who sought wealth and power
cut the root from your life
declaring you were never a wife
nor were you legally wed
because of what your birth certificate said
misgendering you as they did it
not understanding
you were a pioneer
who accepted no limits
that others would rigidly impose on your desires
they couldn’t extinguish your fire

you made liars of hypocrites
you knew
who walked the highest of society’s corridors
and lived in places where gold cards met golden gates
to create a fortress
for those who could afford it
try as you might
you couldn’t ignore the map that nature had planned

though it was Caroline who would bring me
to an understanding of myself
through her I would learn of you see
the pioneer who sought to change the world
who chose the name April
to illustrate
that you could be
the change you wanted to be in the world
and made it a safer place for girls like me to blossom into ourselves