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Nonbinary song

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I've noticed recently how many more people listen to the message of a poem if I put a tune to it, so here's a recording with music.

They told me when I started school
I had to join a line.
There's one for girls and one for boys
I asked them which was mine.
They asked me if my mother raised
A daughter or a son,
They sent me to the corner, where
I made a line of one.
And the line for the girls was pretty pretty pink,
The line for boys was blue.
There's another line for all the rest,
The line for me and you.

Some people have a mind that's small
A mind to give them trouble
with miniskirts and stompy boots
and lipstick on my stubble.
You tell me I'm confused about
the gender I should be.
The only one confused is you.
'cos I know that I'm me.
And the door for the girls is pretty pretty pink,
The door for boys is blue.
There's another door to the world outside,
The door for me and you.

Now if you thought your business was
to label me or guess
the sort of thing I keep beneath
my trousers or my dress:
it's not your place to ask about
the contents of my pants,
unless I take you home to bed...
and, sweetie, not a chance.
And the world for girls is pretty pretty pink,
The world for boys is blue.
There's another world for all the rest,
The world for me and you.

◄ A Subaltern's Love Limerick

Ubi caritas ►

Comments

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M.C. Newberry

Thu 11th Feb 2016 17:29

The message is clear, the words well-crafted and the
rhythm infectious. Like both lyric and tune.
N.B. An interesting historical footnote.
Originally, infant boys wore pink, the girls - blue.

PeterRay

Wed 10th Feb 2016 18:45

Haven't watched the video because I was caught by the words as a poem. Nice- works well.

Peter

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John Coopey

Tue 9th Feb 2016 18:07

Just watched the vid, Thomas.
The poem translates brilliantly into melody but I think you underestimate its ability to stand alone as poetry.
The message is enhanced by the simplicity of the melody. If I were you I'd be tempted to pay an A in the bar before the D in the 4th line.
I like the concept of the confusion being with "you" and also the final rebuff.
Besides YouTube you can also post audios on here using MP3.

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