This poem is one of the most personal I have ever written. It is based on meeting an old friend from my university days and attempting to imagine how she would explain my transition to those of our friends that she still keeps in touch with from those times. I have of course made a few demographic changes to make it more like a poetic story and more relatable to the reader but believe me this poem is more semi autobiographical than it may first appear. I’ve given it the title From Dad To Diana as suggested by my friend and fellow blogger Charlotte Dougall I hope you enjoy the read.
From Dad To Diana
He was always the brainbox at school
sensible played by the rules
kept himself smart
buried his head in the books
went to university got a degree in geography
that was his route out of poverty
moved from the scheme to the west end
married well found a woman
who let him express his feminine side
she was an architect if I remember right
I met him in town with his three daughters
it had been over 20 years since graduation
he was now she and all dolled up
she said she was living full time as a woman
told me it made her feel more human
and the lassies are cool with her switching
from dad to Diana
the youngest said the name suits her
it let’s her be herself and she’s happier now
than she’s ever been
it’s such a shame she had to live with this secret
since her early teens
I had always wondered why
she had dressed as a woman at Halloween
and smiled more than she did
for the rest of the year
I see it clearer now
it was the only night
she could really be herself.
and when all else is said and done
she deserves to have the fun
that Cyndi Lauper sang about time after time
in the years when she should have been dancing
© Gayle Smith 2019
Skirtingroundmylife 