You get to explain gender to all of your friends —
And all of your family —
And maybe once more to be sure —
And random strangers —
And maybe, like, doctors and nurses who should probably know better;
You get to explain to your partner that nothing has changed —
And that you were always this way —
And that really, honestly, nothing has changed —
And that this has no effect on your love for them —
And I promise;
You will get to come out again —
And explain that it wasn't that being gay wasn't enough —
And explain that it has nothing to do with who you like —
And explain that that shouldn't matter —
And — oh right, this means you might be straight after all;
You get to go through that awkward period of growing your hair out —
And learning how to ask for a more feminine haircut —
And trying a curling iron for the first time —
And figuring out how to eat noodles without also eating your hair —
And the worries that you're just trying to be rebellious;
You get to worry whether you're maybe just trying to be rebellious —
And whether or not you might just be faking it —
And whether you're really Trans Enough or not —
And whether you're maybe just appropriating femininity —
And whether or not passing really matters to you anyway;
You get to dress up in your best clothes —
And your best makeup —
And worry that your shoes are too masculine —
And have your hair game on point —
And convince the doc that you deserve those patches and pills;
You get to go through puberty again —
And it will be weirder this time around —
And your skin will grow soft —
And you'll get more sensitive to temperature changes —
And — YEOWCH! That's a new sensation;
You will cry a lot —
And bite your tongue often —
And lower your gaze —
And learn to take up less space —
And talk softer;
And your dogs will still love you.