Lee Mokobe: A powerful poem about what it feels like to be transgender
Лі Мокоб: Сильний вірш про те, як це - бути транссексуалом
Lee Mokobe is a 20-year-old South African slam poet and co-founder of Vocal Revolutionaries. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
was in a glass-stained cathedral.
у мозаїчному соборі.
the congregation was on its feet,
а віряни на ногах
like a question mark
that my sin would burn
що моя вада зникне
to reintroduce me to sanctity,
яким дивом я був,
to be anything I want.
ким забажаю.
беззуба посмішка,
what was left of my goal.
з залишками мрії.
the other kids couldn't play,
в яку інші діти не могли грати,
не гідним відповіді,
and apologetic girl,
і винною дівчинкою,
wasn't deemed cute anymore.
період, прожитий хлопчиком, вже не здавався милим.
seeing my knees in the shadow of skirts,
would never bring a husband home,
не привести мені додому чоловіка,
and child-bearing.
та виховання дітей.
along with their slurs.
come out of the closet.
without my permission.
more Ken than Barbie.
більше Кеном, ніж Барбі.
як до будинку,
to house all your insides,
to invite guests over,
strong enough to stand on.
myself after fading things.
left behind by Mya Hall,
не проронивши ні слова,
conversations at the bus stop.
- "який сором" - на зупинках.
into a mausoleum,
my identity into a spectacle,
з моєї особистості шоу,
while the brutality of living in this body
а жорстокість життя у цьому тілі
at the bottom of equality pages.
на сторінках рівності.
my gender expression is a trick,
що моя стать - це трюк,
without their consent,
for their eyes and hands
they did not like.
hang me with all the other skeletons.
повісять з іншими скелетами.
to talk people into coffins,
на надгробній плиті.
there are boys rotting,
чому хлопці гинуть,
in high school hallways
hashtag in a second
стати наступним хештеґом,
becoming like judgment day
стануть судним днем,
more transgender children than parents.
дітей, ніж батьків.
start to feel redundant,
стало достатньо,
become lessons about sin
це уроки за гріхи,
all this breath and mercy,
усе дихання та милосердя,
that washed over Jesus' feet.
омивало ноги Ісуса.
getting stuck in my throat.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Lee Mokobe - PoetLee Mokobe is a 20-year-old South African slam poet and co-founder of Vocal Revolutionaries.
Why you should listen
The volunteer-run organization empowers youth in South Africa to fid their voice through poetry and art, offering free workshops, motivational talks, seasonal slams, national/local performances and mentoring. In his own poetry, Mokobe tackles tough social justice and LGBTQ issues. He has performed across three continents and was the youngest and first African coach at the Brave New Voices Festival, which he won in 2015.
Lee Mokobe | Speaker | TED.com