A Poem to Deadname
A girl half alive half dead
She never really was alive
But I have always loved her
Her soft and gentle hands that I adore in all who touch mine
Her heart shaped face and round eyes that onced sparkled but now have gone dull
I remember her well
Her soft chest and the ink splotch of pigment that she never learned why it was there
Her ribs that I have moved trying to be rid her of that soft chest that had I not had to share this home with her I would have not even payed mind to.
Her tummy and all the good food it has held
Her
Her
Her
Deadname,
I’m sorry you had to die for me
And I wish I hated you
I wish I could drink a magic potion that made it so you never existed
Maybe if I did I could have some peace
The peace that I never killed you
But
I had to
Because you were never really there
But I still see you
I see you in the 50 Hz gap between me and where I should be
In these soft fingers and weak nailbeds
I see you in the not quite sharp enough jaw, in my own memories, in all I do
I see you in the way people talk to me.
And I don’t hate you, I love you Deadname
But I have to kill you
If I ever want to see the light
I am flat chest, rougher hands, sharper jaw,
eyes that may one day see the world without fear but today is not that day
I am everything I hate about you and everything I will become
I am the curve of my ribs and the scars that will one day line my chest and the smile on my face
I am Good friend, French name that my mother did not give me,
And I’m sorry that you had to die for me.
Thank you Deadname. I’d say you’ll be missed but you only have one foot in the grave
And I have to pull you down
In order for me to
finish the journey out.