Sharing her story
One of the participants of our project, Dial, has recently sent us two poems that we would like to share. These poems were originally published in Talking About My Generation – a publication for over 50s, where community reporters are encouraged to change the record about what it’s like to grow older in Greater Manchester.
Pauline identifies as a trans woman, and her powerful words really resonated with us after the launch of our podcast, Box Tickers, a few weeks ago. Ten years on from the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, Box Tickers explores provocations from 13 Greater Manchester artists who are considering the protected characteristics listed under the Equality Act and asking what we could do better.
In Episode 2 of Box Tickers, Oskar Marchock talks about gender identity, and in episode 4, and poet mandla talks about the gender binary. Since the beginning of lockdown, we’ve seen the rolling back of trans rights, and transphobia from prolific figures – and with that increase, it’s important that we openly support the trans community and a world where they feel safe to be themselves.
If you have the time, please read Pauline’s poems below and have a listen to Box Tickers. If you want to offer your support to trans communities at this time, you can donate to Gendered Intelligence here.
Being Transgender: The Hurt and The Pain
Trans am I
As are my sisters brothers
And non binary folk
She he they
All of us the T in LGBT
Will toilets be open
For us to choose to use
Or closed to us like many want
Will we become pariahs
Made into lepers
Mocked despised ridiculed
Words wound us
Hate hurts us
Bullies batter us
Acid attacks us
Corrosive as corona
Nasty are words of hate
And ….”free speech”
Who cares about trans
Not Rowling Trump or Truss
Let’s roll back the years
They and their supporters say
Make it illegal for us
To be who are and
Who we could truly be
We are not alone
Many support us now
Not only LGB folk
But young and old
We are daughters sons
Brothers sisters
Aunts uncles
Grandads and grandmas
Those who choose to help us
Are many colours many faiths
No faiths all those with kind hearts
As trans women trans men
As non binary we all see
Your love and support
For Us
You care you don’t hate
You support us
With actions and words
Hugs and love
Thank You All of You
Autumn In Our Place
25 weeks now in lockdown
springtime full of sunny days
quiet roads and streets like the 50s
the shock of Covid
new ways of living
In Our Place
So many quiet days wondering
“Ast bin men bin”
or postie with his sack
Will I see anyone today
its ‘angin’ ain’t it
In Our Place
Summer of much hotter days
too pants for me
too humid inside or out
Sometimes the relief of rain couching down
with thunder plumps flowing into
ginnels and back yards
the local park’s metal dinosaur glistening after in the sun
In Our Place
Brews a plenty throughout
Ham barms spread with butter
Fish and chips and peas with pea wet
from the Top O’ Th’ Cross Chippy
for a chippy tea
And then pubs opening
lots enjoying a few scoops
In Our Place
All those scallys in downing street
are they just demic with
U-turns too many to count
It is so bobbins this Covid
it’s well bad
In Our Place
Autumnal days cooler shorter
still in lockdown
will it be sorted
by the London Bell Ends
or will it get dead worse
In Our Place
On Florizel Street
people like us continue
bessies supporting each other
however mingin’ it is
We are still buzzin’ for life
you don’t get owt for nowt
In Our Place
About Pauline
Pauline Smith is a writer and poet, active in the LGBT Foundation’s Butterflies, Out in the City and Pride in Ageing programme.
She volunteered in the start-up of the Trans MCR programme as well as serving as a befriender of the LGBTQ Foundation.
Pauline is a trans woman and passionate about supporting the Trans Community in Manchester – she speaks three languages outside of English and is interested in football, women’s fashion, current affairs, reading, cooking and travelling. You can find more of her writing here.
Being Transgender: The Hurt and The Pain and Autumn In Our Place were first published with Talking About My Generation and have been shared with permission from Pauline. Find out more about Talking About My Generation here.