when i was born i didn’t say anything

for Ellen van Neerven

 

When it came to gender or being gendered.

I knew as much about it as my lungs knew how
to breathe.

Like two thumbs cut off and pushed inside a
plush toy.

Blackened by the world.

Already.

Marked down in a book.

I had nothing to write with.

 

 

essa may ranapiri

 

 

essa may ranapiri (Ngāti Raukawa/Tainui/Ngāti Takatāpui/Clan Gunn/Highgate) is a person or some shit / or whatever / they wrote a book of poems called ransack / it’s still in th world / the only time they use they/them pronouns for themselves is in these bios / isn’t that funny / thx goes out to their ancestors / who are as big as everything / just wow / just everything / they will write until they’re dead