Self-Preservation • 10/24/23
CW: SH
The battle of self-preservation over some greater, worser force… My body must be marked in some way, shape, or form This excruciating, unending pain must be tangible Palpable Physical Visible • That daunting urgency… The creeping feeling curdling in my stomach The painful realization It’s either now or never My life depends upon this moment And I am scared… They say courage consists of persistence amid fear… I try to persist… I have persisted… I must persist. There is little else for me to do.
About lttv
letters to the void. is a collection of short poems on trans and queer existence amid abuse, on Black existence, on mad existence, and the writer’s journey out of imposed darkness
To the reader, please note that the traditional format of the lttv poems follow a chronological theme as the reader goes through the ins and outs of the writer’s life and experiences. Some of this formatting may have been altered or posted out of order to adapt to the Substack platform.
While the journey has been rough, I would like to leave you with these words that have encouraged me through it all <3
" come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed " - Lucille Clifton
“Nature held me close and seemed to find no fault with me.” - Leslie Feinberg from Stone Butch BluesDedicated
☆ to myself and for all those in a similar place
☆ to all of my trans siblings and especially my Black siblings <3