Inclusion – Skirtingroundmylife

Taxi For Covid

As we get ready to celebrate as best we can, our second Christmas of the pandemic this poem let’s you know what I’d like to order from Santa and that’s why it’s titled Taxi For Covid. I hope you enjoy the read.

Taxi For Covid

From nowhere dark clouds
blacked out light from our lives
we were told to stay home
not to panic buy essential stuff
to venture outside only when we absolutely must

This invisible threat was new to us
a modern day plague swept across borders
changing the established order
forcing us to challenge ourselves
in to finding new ways of doing things
we would never have thought of before

We couldn’t ignore it
though elites did their best to wish it away
homes became our workspace
and classrooms for those in education
we sought inspiration in new ways
during difficult days in an uncertain world
we learned new skills
as technology helped us to see
the friends and family
we weren’t allowed to visit in real time

The internet was our saviour
patterns of behaviour changed
and almost everything moved online
this might have worked for some
but one size didn’t fit all
as many longed for the day
they could to go to the football, the shops or the pub

Meanwhile Zoom was our nightclub , our concert our spoken word gig,
our shared social space
till we waited for the darkness to lift
along with our spirits
when news of a vaccine arrived

Now we’ve survived the worst of the storm
these unforeseen events always bring
though we’re not quite out of the woods just yet
chaos will tempt us by offering just one last dance
before departing to his fate

it is up us to politely decline his request
or be more assertive if required
in telling this nightmare we don’t desire his company
then send him on his way
as we get that shot in the arm
and order a taxi for Covid

Fetish Nights

In this poem I travel back in time to the mid to late 1990’s when I was still very much in the closet and finding my feet in the LGBT scene. In those days being a trans woman was a very difficult shift you had to be a very discreet in the way you went about things and finding where you could be yourself wasn’t always easy. It was a challenging environment l to come out in but if there was one place I found acceptance it was in the underground music scene and in particular Fetish Nights. This was my safe space where nobody ever judged me where anything went as long as it wasn’t harming anyone. This poem is my tribute to those carefree nights and occasional days where I was given the chance to be me. I’ve titled it Fetish Nights I hope you enjoy the read.

Fetish Nights

It was once a month in the early years.
I crossed the lines of respectability.
If only my mother had known.
she could have saved me from myself
and my sinful desires.
the fires of hell consumed my soul
out of control. I knew
the names of my demons
lust and passion can and do
make slaves of us all.
when nature calls you realise
you have to do what you do
man or woman it made no difference to me
I decided to do what I’d do with whoever I pleased
and they weren’t the only ones doing the teasing
they were able to please me
when I was in the mood for pleasure
that’s what I loved about fetish nights
nobody judged you, nobody cared
who you were or what you wore

That Couple. (A Poem For Bisexual Visability Day )

As yesterday was Bisexual Awareness Day. I thought I’d share this new poem titled That Couple As I think it illustrates that women can bring out my sinful side with just as much power as any man. I hope you enjoy the read.

That Couple

it was a Sunday afternoon
when we got talking
as we waited for a bus to town
she told me she was gay
teasing me if I was that way inclined
I said I had kissed a girl and liked it
but men still excited me
especially in tennis whites
it’s natural to fight it she claimed
telling me I should never be ashamed
and she would like to taste my lips
when the bus arrived
we sat next to each other
holding hands
she kissed my check
we both wanted more
yet neither moved in for thrill
we didn’t want to be that couple
which sent the passengers in to a state of shock
we talked and did women things
sharing intimate moments
when no words needed spoken
as we were frozen in time
on this beautiful Sunny day
I had nothing to say except for the fact
that I kissed a girl
and loved every second of it
unfortunately I lost the details she gave me
I remember her name was Kelly
and I wished I had given her
both my number and myself

The Day The Clyde Turned Pink

In this poem which I wrote for International day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, I recall the events of Pride 2008 which was the first time I had attended it in my home city of Glasgow and explain why it was a very significant event on my journey to self acceptance. I’ve titled it The Day The Clyde Turned Pink I hope you enjoy the read

The Day The Clyde Turned Pink

Pride 2008
my first in my home city
dolled up to the nines
my flatmate walked with me
as the parade made its way
through Glasgow city centre
to the square

once there I mingled with friends
and a future first minister said
she liked my dress
when we spoke after her speech
this was a day when Glasgow reached out to our community
as the young and young at heart
waved to onlookers as cheering crowds took selfies
and Hazel Dean was the star attraction
belting out the classics
we sang at Karaoke
and danced to in the clubs and bars

this was a show in which we were the stars
who all had a part to play
in the unfolding drama of the day
and of course the adventures of the night
this was the first time my Glasgow had really felt right
I was walking the streets with pride
on the day the Clyde turned pink
to match the colour of my dress
and I said yes to accepting myself

Keepsakes (For Twelfth Day)

On a night they are playing an online gig this poem is decided to one of the best bands on the traditional music scene. The band in question is Twelfth Day an amazingly talented and innovative duo of Catriona Price, and Eshter Swift. It was written after watching YouTube videos of the band and getting a wee bit teary eyed. I’ve titled it Keepsakes. I hope you enjoy the read.

Keepsakes.

It’s the wee small hours
of a January Saturday
At a time when I should be sleeping
I silently weep for the friends I won’t see
till the end of this virus
meanwhile instruments are quietend
and voices type our words rather
than speak
I remember memories are made as keepsakes
I listen to tunes and songs
feel a sense of a belonging
to something bigger than this
I know that raindrops will kiss my cheeks
and silver streams become rivers
as I remember that winter won’t be the same
without the familiar faces
whose smiles light up the usual places
in the audience and on stages
until the music stops
with the coming of Imbolc
the harbinger of a Celtic spring.

Chilled Out ( For Nicola Docherty)

In this poem I look the value of friendship and show that even in this winter weather real friends will still find a reason to smile. It was inspired by a photograph posted on Instagram by Rangers and Scotland international footballer Nicola Docherty who was enjoying some quality time with her Rangers and Scotland teammate Sam Kerr and their former Glasgow City And Scotland teammate and now renowned football commemtator Leanne Crichton. I’ve given it the title Chilled Out, I hope you enjoy the read.

Chilled Out (For Nicola Docherty)

The warmth of friendship
on the coldest of days.
Three chilled out stars
share fun times
in a local snow covered park.
Smiling for the camera
placed on the branch of a lightly dusted tree
they capture a scene straight from a Glasgow winter wonderland.
The postcard image of the season
gives us a reason to remind ourselves
it is not yet spring.
Though I can’t help but speculate,
as to who will win the snowball fight

The Blether

In this poem I explore the idea of a socially distanced chat like the one I enjoyed with my friend Leanne on the first Sunday of the year. I’ve given it the title The Blether I hope you enjoy the read.

The Blether

On the First Sunday of the year
just when the sky had changed
from daylight to traditional winter black
it dressed to impress the stars
and let the street lamps know it meant business
my friend sends me a message
she asks me if I’m up for a socially distanced chat
informing me she’ll be passing my way
on the road back from the shops
it’s the hour between dinner and boredom
despite the freezing cold weather
I’m up for a blether its been too long
since our last catch up
March seems like a million yesterdays ago
the chill in the air says it’s cold enough for snow
wrapped up and masked up
I go to the front door of my flat
I see a shadow we chat
about our lives since lockdown started
in the dark of late afternoon
the fog restricts my view
I’m cautious about the two metre rule
she says it’s cool we’re about two and a half metres apart
my heart tells me how different this has been in the past
how it will be again when we finally reach a post covid world
and we return to the normality we knew
we swapped festive stories the way friends do
though she would have found my Christmas dinner tale unbelievable
had it been anyone else
but with me involved she knew it was true
she updated me on all her news
saying that home schooling three kids
was both challenging and entertaining
not that she was complaining
well it meant she could work from home
I told her as an unpaid poet that’s all I ever did
we knew this was surreal
the two of us speaking to shadows
covered by an overcoat of fog
mindful of the cold
we didn’t stay out too long
well it was we agreed
better to be safe than sorry
as we prepared for the morning
and tighter restrictions
to symbolise the end of the festivities
and a return to the familiar reality
we’ve known since this unwelcome visitor
became a squatter in our lives
we knew we could have talked for longer
but she had a family awaiting her return
we agreed we should do this again
though it’s hard to keep your distance
from a friend you want to hug
we both know that will have to wait
till a proper get together
and this type of blether will have to do
at least for the foreseeable future

Flushes And Fashion Police Can’t Stop A Woman In Her Golden Years ( The Post That Started A Friendship A Guest Post Written By Me For Jessica Lauren Hatcher)

It was the early summer of 2015 when I saw a younger blogger ask for other bloggers to write guest posts for her site while she went away on holiday. Now don’t ask me why but I decided to ask her if she might be interested in hearing the story of a late middle aged transwoman so imagine my surprise when a chatty 19 year old said that she would providing I could tailor it to suit her target demographic. In a fit of what I can only describe as insanity I decided to go for it, and in the process of doing so I began a friendship with Jessica Lauren Hatcher that endures to this day and is stronger now than it’s ever been. This is why I’ve given this post its original title Flushes And Fashion Police Can’t Stop A Woman In Her Golden Years then subtitled it The Post That Started A Friendship as that’s exactly what it did and that’s what can happen when collaborations work well as ours

http://www.jessicalaurenhatcher.com/2015/06/guest-post-flushes-and-fashion-police.html?m=0

Till next time

Gayle X

A Story Of Gender Dysphoria

I really should have shared this poem on International Transgender Remembrance Day for reasons I think explain themselves. It’s titled A Story Of Gender Dysphoria.I hope you enjoy the read.

A Story Of Gender Dysphoria

When you’re taking hormones
you’ve been medically prescribed
as a way to help you change your life
when your personal anthem is I will survive
you know you have gender dysphoria

When you’ve been for a psychiatric assessment
to talk about decades of self resentment
and the specialist sees you
in a place of contentment
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When you’ve had your feelings dismissed as a phase
When your body feels wrong like you’re trapped in cage
like you’re living your life in a permanent rage
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When you’ve written in your poems
about thoughts you’ve repressed
and you’ve asked the psychiatrist what they suggest
when you’re told that your brain
doesn’t match to your sex
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When you’re told you must live every day for a year
no matter the taunts the abuse , or the smears
and you still believe it’s a reason to cheer
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

On the bus at the bar or even at church
when you’re going to the football the the theatre or work
when there isn’t a place in the world
you can shirk
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

On the days you dispair and your not at your best
as your visitors dance with some unwelcome guests
even when you’re labelled as a man in a dress
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When the year is completed
and the treatment gets real
you know it was you who signed up
for this deal
when no words how amazing it feels
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When emotions kick in and the changes get started
as relatives grieve and your mum’s broken hearted
yet you feel fantastic as they mourn the departed
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When you’re waxing your legs
till the hair disappears
when you’re changing your shape
and things start to appear
when going back to your past life would give you the fear
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

When your looking the part and your confidence soares
and the truth of your life is no longer is ignored
and you didn’t get dressed up because you were bored
you know you’ve got gender dysphoria

You knew who you were from a very young age
and though elders claimed it was only a phase
by the words you eventually placed on the page
you knew you had gender dysphoria

So now I’ve explained things
I hope you can see
that the cage is now empty the bird has flown free
this change has made me the best I can be
and I know I have gender dysphoria

Gift To Herself

In this poem I look at what can often be one of the hardest days a transwoman or indeed any trans person can ever face and that’s their first Christmas with the family. This is a day which is often fraught with difficulties and needs to be handled with care and sensitivity to ensure all goes as well as it can in the circumstances particularly if it is also the day when the family and friends find out the name their relative has chosen to be known by. I’ve given it the title Gift To Herself I hope you enjoy the read.

Gift To Herself

Aprenhensive she expected
stares, glares, and growls
when she wore her dress to dinner
that her mother said was unfit to be seen
in front of the queen on this day of all days
like the monarch had a direct satellite
in to their front room
as if she watched her dad carve the turkey
before starting the same tired old speech
to those who could be bothered to listen
her dad was fine though , kissing her cheek on arrival
for his daughter’s first Christmas
with the family
he made it clear neither her transition
nor her sexuality was to be discussed
other relatives blushed maintaining an awkward silence
as the stuffing was passed round the table
she wore her best smile to mask
the nerves the occasion demanded
eventually she cracked some jokes
and others begun to understand
she hadn’t really changed
as much as they had feared
she explained the reason why
she had to take the step
and why this family gathering
was the best time to do it
well it’s important to get it sorted
before dessert
the others agreed it was an appropriate time to get it done
as her dad asked Alexa to play
girls just wanna have fun
she handed everyone a cracker
and on the count of three
they pulled them to find party hats favours and a piece of paper
containing the name she chose
as a gift to herself
to wear as her personal identity