Deadname

He hears it echo, she held my daughter
Yet another day he's a lamb to the slaughter
It seeps through his skin, he's drowning in sin
His patience wears thin but he puts on a grin

He'll change the subject, sweep it under the rug
But don't you forget you've planted a bug
Of shame in his ear, it's all he can hear
It's all he can feel, it confirms all his fears

Without second thought you say, "I miss my son"
And now all of her confidence is quickly undone
Shows no sign she's hurt, but she changes her skirts
Her pants and sweatshirts can't be her and overt

You get the privilege to be safe in your skin
So you'll never understand the situation she's in
You get to not agree with her identity
And say "he" and not "she" but she can't just not be

They came to you after much apprehension
Just to learn first grade English, is past your comprehension
You say it's not true, that it's not fair that you
Have to learn something new that you'd quickly get used to

You can't use our names as an asset
We have every right to be upset
When every syllable sounds like a threat
This is not as easy as "forgive and forget"

If you don't get it you can learn how to cope
Every time that you say it, wash your mouth out with soap
We don't have to forgive this, so you'd better hope
You can rebuild all the trust that you broke