What We Talk About When We Talk About the Pursuit of Gender Euphoria 
by Levi Cain

blessed be. 
the body. blessed. 
holy ghost in
ethical spandex. in glitter 
holding silicone
as the staff. blessed.
magritte’s mermaid 
strolling past in
birkenstocks
and into the hot hands of 
a fisherwoman,
that which is our 
lady of transition.
blessed. laurels made of 
nylon and cotton and five 
milliliters of. thank you 
for asking. it’s old. it didn’t 
cost that much, 
considering. fifteen pounds of
flesh and rowan says california
is nice this time of year,
besides which it’s cheaper.
blessed. the press
of cheekbone to 
mirror to open palm.
lavender and brandy
under your 
tongue for an entire
weekend. blessed.
joy as a watermelon
seed i keep 
swallowing on
purpose. as 
a scripture. as a millstone, 
gifted from camila’s neck,
now used to broaden my
shoulders. blessed.
inheritance being
my father’s curling
beard now on
my own jaw. blessed. 
inheritance being
hips wide as the
atlantic. blessed. inheritance 
being whatever the fuck
i want it to be. blessed. 
my body not a 
temple but a 
disco spinning itself into
the ground. blessed.
the blaze a shower 
of sequins. blessed. 
my body rising from 
the ashes. blessed. thank 
god i survived enough
to be someone who 
could bring you flowers—miracle.

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​Levi Cain is a gay Black writer from Boston, MA. Their work has been shortlisted for Brain Mill Press’ 2019 National Poetry Month contest, as well as nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Their first chapbook, dogteeth, is available from Ursus Americanus Press.