0"‘ 5“ ‘"9 '5"°“““‘e‘!",5, _ » _' « Twas the night before Solstice, but early in the day When her parentswere sleeping she stole out the door ' ' When Jorjie the dyke at last made her way Tiptoeing like Tinkerbell across the floor To a land way up north, where everyone was free And into the forest with her toad and her axe To the land of her dreams where everyone was gay, ' Striding through brushland and over the moor Or lesbian, or trans, as the case may be. — Carrying vision in her heart and a full backpack. She’d had quite a journey, undertaken at risk On northward and northward for weeks she strode Of trolls and trapezes, potholes and brisk Following now this, now that wooded road Bright talkers and stalkers holding the road Escaping the trolls, the trap-easies and all And Homeland Security who required a frisk Staying true to herself and her woman—loving code Of her person and baggage and even her toad! As Summer days shortened to fade into Fall. It took her six months — no, just half a year Despite boots and pack, no vision in flannel, ~ Of coping with bigots who fomented fear She, no dykey cliché, not stuck on sports channels, T ' Of boyish girls and girlish boys Strode through Hoosier and Cornhusker and Show Me States, wa And everything, everything, everything queer Finding thembackwards, not progressive, too banal, From dolls to trucks to books and toys. ' No queers in politics, no state—championed.dates. - So, she’d set out to find this marvelous place Wanting to find home where gender was fluid, e Where no one had suffered for gender or grace ! Not comfortable with neighbors in fear, who hid ' Or for lack of charm or height or size Who they felt like inside, they were shrouded in Bushisms! — - Or for coming to dinner wearing white lace. Not sharing what they’ve known since they were just kids, N I And she’d found it, she saw, rubbing her eyes. ‘ Saying of the closet, “My family pushed me in. . . .” 9 _ . , The snow fall lay gleaming all about the town. J orjie crossed Lake Champlain, splashing briefly with Champ, None of the people had their eyes cast down! Shook off on the docks, six months earlier so camp! They walked in twos, and fives and threes Covered with rainbows, beer tents, and gay folk, e 0 All holding hands, some wearing crowns! This night slightly brisk, snow glistening by lamps, . _ Oops, sorry, they’re tiaras, now if you please. She felt warm inside, despite her recent soak. C ’ - Boys kissing boys and men kissing men, Two men holding hands, one slender, one furry, ’ ‘ » Right there on the street! She saw them and then, Strolling by glanced her way, those two in no huny, She spied a young dyke throwing glances her way. (ending their four—hundredth date with a walk on the bayside) Jorjie took a deep breath, remembering her Zen, Stretched out their umbrella, protecting her from flurries, Crossed the road with her toad and got ready to say, And made sure she wasn’t left alone by the wayside. :31-HELMA I - “Hey, sister, I saw’ you giving me glances. _ Once inside, upstairs in their chic, modern flat, ' Ens‘ M New I wanna know just what are my chances With a goldfish, Jorjie’s toad, two dogs, and a cat, ' z \ Of getting to stay in this wonderful place?” They opened their guestroom to the slightly damp newbie, I308‘ WHGII 7984 IIIOI-Id - Ed-II » The sister was quick to tell her .of dances, And sat her down for a welcoming chat, » ' ' , Then folded lorjie in passionate embrace. About where she could meet women, talk, and make whoopie. ' It was the answer she needed, a welcome to town Fourteen cups of cocoa, and two days later, Up there in Vennont, that land of renown. At a bohemian coffee shop, Jorjie met a cute skater Or at least so she dreamed when the sun stood still. Named Tommie, once Bethany years before, She woke the next morning in her summer nightgown. Flirted because, well, what a cute tranny waiter! V Vowing to herself, “I’ll find it, I will!” With banter and wit that made her heart soar. The two partnered well, spoke for hours, laughed on end, A new lover, a pa1tner,'a confidant, a friend. With the gay boys helping pack the U—Hauls, (okay, kind of cliché, but could they deny that trend?!) They moved into a home that was quaint but not too small. The guest list grew for a grand joining of hands With colleagues, and buddies, and neighbors, and bands. That day, the following spring, was lovely and balmy, And J orjie, home at last in dyke-friendly lands, Created life and family with her dream partner Tommie. But this wasn’t a dream, not this time, oh no! It was as real as ice. as real as snow! As real as irises blooming in Spring. And our story is just about ending you know. Joy came with the Solstice. and now we can sing! Tra—lee, tra—la, we live in the north Where we know our value. it just shines forth! We join hands together to sing to the sky And celebrate the turning of our Mother Earth And dream of our spirits learning to fly. V a