Learning the Alphabets

-Yanga Gceya

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Today we were learning the alphabets in class

We began

A is for angst, anguish or even anxiety

The teacher then explained that the B in sound in Biphobia is the same as the one in Bible

C is not to be confused with quarter life crisis but is indeed crises 

 and the same in cry… 

As for the D in dopamine, he only comes once in a while 

In the form of dread, dead friends and the ever so soothing smell of sniffed or burnt things

E is the ecstasy you feel on a ride to F

Fuck fuck fuck these 20s 

And G for God’s sakes, why is there so much H- homophobia?

I I I is an affirmation not to be swallowed whole by the joy of the jay

The same that evades you on dim lit dance floors

Or on a Sunday night before the K

In the kleptocracy, kakistocracy and clusterfuck of this capitalism That calls you again the L word

Thrown at you

Lesbian

And lazy, lousy or loser as the teacher exemplified

M is for Mother the only place that is your nest when you say NO

Which is a complete sentence that the M in Monster oh I mean men always confuse to more

The O is the officer telling your beloved that the P in pain is only passing

And the Q in Queer was probably asking for it. 

Today we were learning the alphabets in class

And the R is for Rescue Me, Rescue Me, Rescue Me

From the S word- not the super trans man that I am

But the suicide and the shame of being U

Which is maybe being U equals U

Undetectable is untransmittable 

Or U equals U which is unclean or undesirable 

Because of the V in HIV

W- make a wish to make it stop when you go on your knees for your needsThe X is not the cross that shed its blood for you & I

But the excommunication of the other like the Y in YOU

Today we learnt the alphabets in class 

And Z was the end of my zeal for these days

Today we learnt the alphabets in class

And I heard the LGBTQIA Plus was left out deliberately.

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With the end of USAID, consider donating to the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation to support HIV-positive South Africans during this harrowing time.

Also, please consider getting involved with the Pride Shelter Trust, an LQBTQ+ Haven in Oranjezicht.