If you have been to my other social media you may already know that have transitioned and am now a fully transitioned transgender woman. I have chosen to go by the name Jackie Tanya Leigh. I got my first name from the 1980s sitcom “Too Close For Comfort” character “Jackie Rush”. I chose my middle name from Tanya Roberts who played Julie Roberts on the last season of the original Charlie’s Angels. And I got my last name from my cab driver who supports me being transgender. I had picked my first name and she was being silly trying to give me a redneck middle name , but said “Lee” and I liked it, but not for a middle name. Haven’t done the paperwork to legally change my sex or gender. Trump and the GOP are hostile to transgender so looking to navigate that through a lawyer.

Welcome to poetry blog. I love reading Plath and Sexton and Dickenson and Mia. But to me, the best poets I have read are the unknows. The giants are great for sure, but the friends and locals and groups are a joy to participate in. I encourage everyone who writes poetry to be themselves. It is ok to have influences, but you should always in the end be yourself. There is only one them, and only one you.

Let words be your canvas, show them the raw you, in all your happiness and sadness. Show them your love of nature, and empathy and kindness, but also make them think, provoke, even blaspheme. The poet’s job to me, is to never be shy or timid, but use every word in your vocabulary to paint the best pictures you can. Paint your sunrises, your sunsets, your romance, your fears. Paint your insecurities, your addictions, your successes, your tears.

This blog is dedicated to my late mother Jane. She was my biggest supporter and never let me fall through the cracks. While she was a bit of an authoritarian growing up, that all melted away in her late years, and we grew as close as any parent child could. We had so much fun with our silly car games and rubber duckies, and counting the trees. And our wordplay games, and our thumb wrestling. And forget Yahtzee and backgammon, she always kicked my…… at that. I love you mom. I miss you horribly.

And also my late best friend ever, Bob. He unfortunately passed away in 2017. He lived in Australia, he was a science geek, and he taught me a lot about debate, and some science. I can only grasp overall concepts, not real nitty gritty details. But he most importantly made me feel comfortable in my own skin. I miss you too Bob.

Then there is this annoying guy from Okleeee homa, who says “tators”, and “videeeaaaa” instead of “video”. And don’t get John started on banjos. He is my best friend and he is always there for me, and I love that redneck.

And also Dwayne Stacey and Viki. You saved my life all of you. Thank you.

All poetry posted by me on this website is attached to @brianrrs37, handle RationalPoet on Twitter ,as well as “Brian James Rational Poet” on Facebook/ META. And is subject to copywrite on all my pages.

A Special thanks to Brian Sapient of Rational Responders http://www.rationalresponders.com for hosting my poetry thread for so long. Thank you.

EDIT AS OF 11/13/2024, I have a new account at Bluesky Social under the handle “@rationalpoet37.bsky.social.

Now, everyone, grab your popcorn, glass of wine, and watch me make a fool of myself. Enjoy.

Don’t Say Goodbye, by Brian37 (AKA Brian James Rational Poet on FB/META and @Brianrrs37 on Twitter)

It started one night
When I left
Just to be silly
To get a smile

Everyone says bye
But it happened one night
Instead I responded
“Bicentennial”

It became a game
Between me and my mom
To come up with “bi” sounding words
To each we’d respond

The game was
Not to repeat
Each other’s favorites
As we parted each night

She’d respond
To my “bicentennial”
With “biplane”
And it went on and on

I’d say “bison”, but would be in trouble
If I picked her two favorites
“Buy one get one free”
Or, “bicarbonate of soda”

But we would run out
Eventually
Knowing I’d have
To eventually leave

She’d end it with
“Buy dog and cat food”
Knowing I’d have to
Make stops on my way home

Feeling her cold skin
At the funeral home
The vile stiffness
It won’t happen again

It was as if
I could wake her up
Just in a sleep
The way they prepped her

I can only find comfort
She is no longer in pain
But I hate that we will never
Play that game again

Bicentennial, biplane, bison
Biped, bicarbonate of soda
Biography, buy one get one free
I love you mom, I’ll see you in the morning.