Just As I Am
Who a person is and who their family thinks they should be are two different things.
Root Rot
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.”
— John 15:1-2
I read recently that when trimming trees
the gardener should take any broken
branches, wield an ax or saw, and cut
the branch where it joins the tree.
This practice will protect the tree during
severe weather, assist with wound closure,
and make the tree more aesthetically pleasing.
And for a brief moment, I felt the phantom pain
of having been a branch that briefly belonged,
before being deemed fragmented by my father,
the gardener.
But, what was pruned and thrown to the burn pile
she propagated and planted, sheltered in storm,
and patiently watched as my wound took root.
A splintered limb, standing steadily, an offshoot
of their family tree, flowering for the first time.
The branch was never broken—the roots were
rotten at the base.
Preferred Pronouns
She/her/he/him.
Zei/ze/they/them.
Options I never knew
when as a kid they
just called me—
tomboy.
And while I appreciate
expanding minds and
language, if you want
to know how to refer to
me you can just call me—
hers.
Sarah Vance is a nonbinary poet who spends their days working from home with their 175-pound great dane puppy, Arlo, and their evenings loving their wife and eight kids. They are a justice seeker, word crafter, coffee drinker, and mountain hiker. While Sarah dreams of West Coast towns with ocean breezes, they are Southern and believe there is merit in staying and sharing these words.