Smashing Tomatoes

There are 5000 approx transgender people in the UK. I write as a single parent who has been on a journey with my child. For Kye.

One, two, three, four, five,

Precariously round red shapes would rest

Greeting books and oddments as if a guest

And you would stand staring

Fists clenched at your side

Your small feet tilting

As you gazed down the line

Small soldiers stood to attention

They remained forever faceless

No limbs to salute

Troops lacked even motivation

To raise a hint of a smile

The executioner

Petite hands

Smashing down one by one

Descending like a bomb

Licking lips with your pink tongue

Raining death blows on poor bleak Tom

Troops magnificently exploding

Watery red blood, dancing rivers exploring

Trickling down your legs

To rest mournfully broken

I remember...........

How your hair hung

Before it was gone

I remember how you begun

Before we wiped clean

And you became my son

Convinced myself it was just your frustration

Screaming, pleading for recognition

While you faced internal wars reeling

Many would laugh at your performance

But standing behind you, I knew

Smashing tomatoes was a birds eye view

Trapped in your hullabaloo screwed

Is it wrong I miss you?

Little girl,

Is it wrong to sometimes, just sometimes.........

Cry for what is gone.

Reviews

[Crowley]

this is as intense as I have ever seen and moving beyond words, so if this review falls short, its not because I am not interested, its that I am completely floored by the pain and beauty of it all. the picture is wonderful and disturbing and the poem is as well. Sometimes I want to tell the world to f**k off and grow up, and then I realize thats what we do every day in our writing.
This is exceptional.

[TL Boehm]

I have no words. I admire you so for being able to put this out here - your own pain and hope for your child. I only know one transgender - a writer here at the cafe actually - and from her side - I often see her pain in her words. I wish you and your child peace.
You amaze me.

[RayJayy]

Smart move (:

[roarke]

This writing holds and reveals a small fraction of your feelings concerning life. The feelings, thoughts, emotions, realizations are gathered and uplifted in the palms of your hands to let others see a different way to deal with loss and change. This piece also shows your depth. Very brave.
Thanks you for offering this.

[DamienHino]

Well the picture in the beginning really sets the tone. I felt sad, and had the feeling somebody was mistreated. Discrimination is awful, great eye opening poem

[Orlando Furioso]

Sorry to take a while. I read this days ago and was too set back to know what to write then. You describe a total parental torment. I can't imagine how it must feel to face what you describe so acutely. I am not that emotional, but anything to do with my kids does reach me. 'I remember your hair hung before it was gone' is the most moving fragment for me as you are describing the loss of your dau. But nature is as it is. If Toms must be smashed in some deep frustration, so be it. You gain a son and must cheer that when the transition is complete. I can't write like this as it is pure emotional power flowing from experience. Such is life.

[Coyote Poetry]

Something is very hard to understand. My stepmother still don't speak of my gay step-brother. I learn and thankful for my time in Europe. I wasn't effected by his decision. Each of us must fight our battle and hopefully can win and be content. A very strong poem with a lesson.
Coyote

[Kena SunGoddess Dawn]

Wow! Bubo, that was definitely intense. Very descriptive, you put my poetry to shame. lol. Thanks for sharing.

[Vyctm]

I liked it. The flow was great and the imagery was vivid. The whole work of art was skillfully played and a match to the professionals.

[Hack]

This is somewhat obsquered to say the least...the way you put small and petite about this poem suggests that it only has small meaning...I thought that you're author's note conveyed a more moving meaning than that of your poem.

[Poeticpiers]

A difficult situation to deal with. You seems to have accomplished and coped no doubt with problems along the way.I salute you.