Hamlet Detransitions

In this world of princes it's kill and be kill'd
no matter what gender you are.
If you're man enough to wear a woman's weeds
you might get away with poison or grief.
Whether or not you bleed is of no importance.
Backstage, Hamlet takes off her makeup
and unbinds her chest.
This barren kingdom she never called her own
folds itself up into the rafters
like a dollhouse someone took an ax to.
Courtiers have their own gender, as do scholars.
The gender of ghosts is revenge.
All jesters are women. All gravediggers, too.

❦