The irony of these two men:
Father Adam and Bishop Steve –
so fond of the things they believe.
“God created man and woman,” they cry.
…missing the irony of the sweltering homoeroticism.
I nod in tacit approval of the things they say.
Me, transgender, nonbinary,
genderqueer, femme, demiwoman, gay…
your god did not make me.
I was knitted together by far stronger forces:
by my mother under witch trees,
on far flung fields combed by a song in the breeze,
in warlock libraries,
among the covens of the brave,
in the enclaves of heretics.
I was shaped by book and grass and sky.
My curves and edifices, legs, breasts, chin, and ears,
stories, moralities, education, love,
carved by my own hand over the years.
I came about beyond the intentions of gods and devils,
sprites and trolls, faeries and ogres.
Your gods are far too unimaginative,
to come up with something as wonderful as I am.
It’s little wonder you fear me.
If I can do this much:
What else can I do?
Charl Landsberg is a transgender South African poet, musician, and artist who’s work focusses on LGBTQIA issues, feminism, anti-racism, and often a bit of fantasy and science fiction.