I also woke up hopeless for the future
But having faith in tonight

When black elders and ancestors helped my hands to make a soul food dinner
And trans gods and intersex angels gathered like saints around the firepit
And became the light of the world

Burning
Releasing
Together

Eating a soul food dinner
With love from Tony’s Kitchen

Making care packages
& Striking poses with
northern light nail polish

Building a little library
With stories like ours
And gracing the open mic
With our own

Dancing to
“Baby, I’m a Star”
by Prince

Baby we are stars
in the shape of beeswax candles
glowing in the sanctuary

We walked into the
Street Trans Action Revolutionary House

I confessed to Herculine Barbin
That I felt like she did that night

these manic highs
And depressive lows
Are manageable with
Therapy & meds
But it can still be
exhausting

And just when I think
I can’t do this anymore

Black elders & ancestors
Trans gods & intersex angels
Holding me tightly
As if to say
I don’t know how were going to do this
But were going to do this together