Prêmio Claudia Ann Seaman
Deadname
Nathan Lee
Cupertino, CA
Monta Vista High School
Poetry
for blake brockington, brandon teena, zander mahaffey...
they buried you in a rainstorm
with cemetery dirt stuck to their soles.
your tombstone said
you will be missed,
friend, sister, daughter.
they remembered you by the name
that should have passed
long before you did.
if a boy overdoses
if a boy hangs himself
if a boy jumps off a bridge
if a boy steps into traffic
is he still a boy?
what a shame. what a tragedy.
she had a bright future, you know.
she was such a beautiful girl.
such a beautiful girl.
such a beautiful girl.
ELOGIO EDITORIAL
I was initially captivated by how subtle this story lures the reader in. The unembellished language reflects an admirable level of control and composure, creating a swift dichotomy between the emotional turbulence the speaker likely harbors. For underneath the compact, whip-smart stylings lies a deep vein of sadness and anger, imbued with the very humanity that tragically renders us both vulnerable and violent.
Nathan Lee is an emerging transgender poet. He graduated from Monta Vista High School in Cupertino in California in 2020, and currently attends UC Davis. More of his work can be found on his Instagram (@poetrynate) or website, www.poetrynate.weebly.com.
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