Lee Mokobe: A powerful poem about what it feels like to be transgender
لي موكوب: قصيدة مؤثرة حول ما يعنيه أن تكون مخنثا
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.
كانت داخل زجاج الكاتدرائية الملون.
the congregation was on its feet,
المصلون واقفون،
like a question mark
that my sin would burn
to reintroduce me to sanctity,
to be anything I want.
ما أريد حين أكبر
what was left of my goal.
the other kids couldn't play,
يستطيع أحد آخر أن يلعبها،
and apologetic girl,
أو بنتا خجولة،
wasn't deemed cute anymore.
الولد جذابا كما كان.
seeing my knees in the shadow of skirts,
ركبتي مرتدية تنورة،
would never bring a husband home,
لن يجلب لي زوجاً،
and child-bearing.
along with their slurs.
come out of the closet.
without my permission.
more Ken than Barbie.
كنت كين أكثر من كوني باربي.
to house all your insides,
تحمي كل ما لديك بداخله،
to invite guests over,
strong enough to stand on.
myself after fading things.
left behind by Mya Hall,
التي خلفتها مايا هول و
conversations at the bus stop.
into a mausoleum,
my identity into a spectacle,
while the brutality of living in this body
وحشة العيش داخل هذا الجسد
at the bottom of equality pages.
my gender expression is a trick,
without their consent,
for their eyes and hands
they did not like.
hang me with all the other skeletons.
و يعلقونني مع بقية الهياكل.
to talk people into coffins,
السهل محاكاة موت الناس،
there are boys rotting,
لماذا يفسد الأولاد،
in high school hallways
hashtag in a second
becoming like judgment day
فصول المدرسة كيوم الحساب
more transgender children than parents.
مخنثين أكثر من الأباء.
start to feel redundant,
شيئا عاديا،
become lessons about sin
all this breath and mercy,
that washed over Jesus' feet.
من تحت قدمي المسيح.
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