sterling-elizabeth arcadia
sterling-elizabeth arcadia (she/they) is a Best of the Net winning trans writer and lover of birds, cats, her friends, and going to the movies, living in Philadelphia. Her work has also been nominated for Best Small Fictions and the Pushcart Prize, and has appeared in venues including HAD, poetry.onl, New Delta Review, and the lickety~split. Their chapbook, Heaven, Ekphrasis, is available now from Kith Books.
i was meant to be born
with wings. soft feathers &
a sharp beak—i was meant to become beautiful
long ago.
As a fat, disabled, trans person who defies gender categories, the world around me never lets me forget the fact of my body. In that sense, the body is very much a site of conflict — and in the context of that conflict, I’m also reaching for autonomy.
July 21, 2024
sterling-elizabeth’s Poetry Prompt
Go to the movies and sit in the back right corner, so you can write on your phone without bothering anyone. Take descriptive notes on any images or themes that capture you. Take notes on what the film makes you think and feel. Using those notes, write a poem about an interpersonal experience you’ve had.