He liked feminine things
as far back as I can remember:high-heel shoes, scarves, purses,
dancing before mirrors.
School was a horror.
He preferred hopscotch to relay races,
jump rope to baseball.
I imagine a woman in search of her body,a hijacked plane touched down
in a strange place,
or a photograph of someone elsein unfamiliar clothes.
He played out his life in a foreign film
with no subtitles, with no criticsto rave in reviews, no one
to laud his impersonation.
He was less reality than dream,more imagination than possibility,
and he lived a life without a plot
and point of view,like a poorly written story
filled with questions and no answers.
I think of a woman I did not know,of a sister I wish I had.
(John-David was born on April 28, 1961; he died from complications caused by AIDS on
June 3, 1987).
“Epitaph for a Transsexual” was originally published in Willow Review, 1993.
“Epitaph for a Transsexual” was originally published in Willow Review, 1993.
Beautiful! Sharon
ReplyDeleteMan. Completely crying here at work. I think I probably needed to remember some people I was starting to forget. What a gift--- thanks for posting this beautiful, sad poem, Glen.
ReplyDeleteVery touching tribute.
ReplyDeleteMind? I am honored. This is beautiful, Glen.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
from Jim F.
ReplyDeleteThanks Glen -
I thought of You & Marilyn earlier today. Thanks again for the poem. Johnny like all pioneers was ahead of his time. Today the world might view him as non-binary or gender-expansive. I think of your brother as gender fluid - someone whose gender could vary at random or vary in response to different circumstances.
Tribeca Film Festival premiered a documentary last week about Miguel Dieppa created 25 years later by his niece:
www.penitentheart.com There is a movie trailer on the film's website.
Miguel like Johnny was an early causality of the disease - at a time when so little was known and the world was less kind. It is a comfort to think of Johnny as brave. I still admire his ability to express himself confidently. He was kinda fearless - a genuine non-conformist. To paraphrase Ray Bradbury: "He jumped from the highest cliff... building his wings on the way down."
You were a good brother GH Wheels
JIM
Are we ever going to understand that we're all human--some better at it than others due to lack of tolerance by some of anyone who looks or acts different than them or their economic status in life--but no matter how they try to be superior based on their own perception of reality--we're still all human beings. Get used to it. Accept it. Stop the hate.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sending this again, Glen. Put the same tears in my eyes as before.
ReplyDeleteThe remembrance is especially important given the doubling-down on hate in this country.
Never forget John-David and all others.
About 25 years have passed since I first read a version of this poem. It was my least favorite of your work at that time. It is interesting how maturity changes us, for the better in nearly all ways that do not involve the skin. Today I think its your best work and certainly my favorite. I can't count the number of times that I have returned to read this over the last few years.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful and powerful piece.
Thank you, Jeff. I hope you are well.
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