You get to explain gender to all of your friends —
    And all of your family —
    And maybe once more to be sure —
    And random strangers —
    And maybe, like, doctors and nurses who should probably know better;

You get to explain to your partner that nothing has changed —
    And that you were always this way —
    And that really, honestly, nothing has changed —
    And that this has no effect on your love for them —
    And I promise;

You will get to come out again —
    And explain that it wasn't that being gay wasn't enough —
    And explain that it has nothing to do with who you like —
    And explain that that shouldn't matter —
    And — oh right, this means you might be straight after all;

You get to go through that awkward period of growing your hair out —
    And learning how to ask for a more feminine haircut —
    And trying a curling iron for the first time —
    And figuring out how to eat noodles without also eating your hair —
    And the worries that you're just trying to be rebellious;

You get to worry whether you're maybe just trying to be rebellious —
    And whether or not you might just be faking it —
    And whether you're really Trans Enough or not —
    And whether you're maybe just appropriating femininity —
    And whether or not passing really matters to you anyway;

You get to dress up in your best clothes —
    And your best makeup —
    And worry that your shoes are too masculine —
    And have your hair game on point —
    And convince the doc that you deserve those patches and pills;

You get to go through puberty again —
    And it will be weirder this time around —
    And your skin will grow soft —
    And you'll get more sensitive to temperature changes —
    And — YEOWCH! That's a new sensation;

You will cry a lot —
    And bite your tongue often —
    And lower your gaze —
    And learn to take up less space —
    And talk softer;

And your dogs will still love you.