From The Quill of Suranya

"Are you man enough?" Someone sneers, "You walk like a woman" they say. "Are you really a woman?  You talk like a man." They say. They stare, laugh and bully, I turn to their ignorance as I answer - "I am Brihannala. Cross dressing in disguise."  "I am Shikhandi who battles his enemies."  "I am Yuvanashva. The pregnant king."  "I am Ayyappa, Son of Vishnu and Shiva."  "I am Bhagiratha, born of two queens."  "I am Aravan." "I am Mitra."  "I am. I am. I am."  Respected and accepted In a society  That once was. I wonder as I put on the rouge,  Dance my heart out in the pride walk, Never feeling more seen, More liberated, more validated; Do they really care? People stare, people judge, people are mean. But never before did they ask us, Prove who you are, biologically. What about my feelings? The way I identify?  What about my choices of sexuality and vibe?  A test to confirm who I...

 A storm lashes outside, Of change and acceptance. Another lurks in my heart, In hope, love and joy. Windows of every heart open. Today, the soil welcomes the downpour. Not denying the rebellion any longer. The Gale whispers of new Freedom. Finally, the doors of the mind are ajar, With a tiny lamp of Hope flickering In the strong wind of resistance. Equality is not a myth, Justice prevails after every war And Nature celebrates the Natural. In a destructive dance of ultimate rebellion The thunder screams for all of us, "Accept me for who I am." ~ Suranya