i wish you were born a girl

by india southgate.

 
I wish you were born a girl
So that we could have had a friendship
that would never have had to end 
it would be long and lasting
threatened by nothing 
mutually sacrificial
a union 
under the radar.

you wouldn't have your boyish pride 
and I wouldn't have the fear
of what you could do to me 
if I upset you.	

Your irrationality could never bind us
to our stubborn ways 
And my fixation 
with loving you
in ways you understand
translating what I know
 to what you accept
Would never make you feel like lesser in my eyes

there would be no outside expectations
of gendered relations 
of how we are meant to be with each other
We could be ourselves 
And you could be cool with me
Tell me all you feel 
Without a chance of being 
Seen as what you aren't 

I could comfort you
Without competition
Of how often, how much,
And who should lead.
I could let you rest your head on my chest 
And you could let yourself 
Be forgiven 
And forgive yourself.

I wish you were born a girl
So I wouldn't have to wonder
What is wrong with me.
I think we would have been better off that way.

[unpublished]

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