Dandelion
Let's workshop this poem about the glyphosate solution to when those who pry open possibility end up becoming just another arm of tyranny against alternative ways of living and thinking and speaking
scent of the day: Cuir Cannage, by Dior
First wear, here are my notes: Iris Russian leather very close to Cuir Mauresque, especially in terms of cosmetic makeup feel / Mauresque is spicier and darker in terms of leather (closer to black leather) whereas this is more citrusy and minty and more like tanned brown leather: saddle leather soaped and then waxed enough to leave fingernail scrapes in and yet powdered with a Shalimar ash / feels like orange tanned 80s big hair band leather / Cuir de Russie is greener and dirtier than perhaps both Cannage and Mauresque but less dense and less loud and more cosmetic / Cannage seems more focused on leather than the Mauresque / osmanthus is perhaps in cannage giving suede vibe / birch or something gives wintergreen menthol that Mauresque lacks / Hard not to see as a copy of Cuir de Russie (although not yet clone level) / Cannage is more tanned soap saddle whereas Mauresque seems like black leather
Dandelion
However lovely it is to see
trans flowers (transgender,
transracial, transspecies) wriggle
some breathing room
against the stranglehold of the man,
do they not merit Roundup
once coopted
as one of his sundry weeds:
censors, book burners, policers of tongues?
"Dandelion" is a provocative and highly critical poem that uses botanical metaphor to express a complex and contentious argument about identity politics, specifically questioning whether movements that initially resist dominant power structures risk becoming complicit in new forms of control. The poem functions as a polemical commentary, challenging the perceived trajectory of certain "trans" movements through a stark and unsettling analogy.
Formally, the poem is structured as a rhetorical question, immediately engaging the reader in its provocative premise. The initial lines, "However lovely it is to see / trans flowers (transgender, / transracial, transspecies) wriggle / some breathing room / against the stranglehold of the man," introduce the "trans flowers" as initially sympathetic entities. The parenthetical list explicitly defines the scope of "trans" identities, indicating a broad engagement with contemporary identity discourse. The phrase "wriggle some breathing room / against the stranglehold of the man" acknowledges the initial, positive struggle against an oppressive "man"—a generalized symbol of traditional, dominant power. The enjambment guides the reader through this setup, creating a sense of a nuanced initial acceptance. The poem then pivots sharply with the central question: "do they not merit Roundup / once coopted / as one of his sundry weeds: / censors, book burners, policers of tongues?" The transition from "lovely" to "Roundup" signifies a dramatic shift in judgment. "Roundup," a herbicide, serves as a harsh metaphor for eradication or suppression. The poem's central claim is that if these "trans flowers" become "coopted" by the very system they resisted, turning into agents of control—specifically "censors, book burners, policers of tongues"—then they lose their initial legitimacy and warrant a similar harsh treatment as the oppressive "man" they once fought.
Thematically, the poem delves into the complexities of power dynamics within social movements and the potential for new forms of oppression to emerge from liberation efforts. The metaphor of the "dandelion" is crucial; while often seen as a resilient, defiant plant, it can also be considered an invasive "weed" by those seeking to maintain order. The poem suggests that movements, even those fighting for legitimate "breathing room," risk becoming instruments of control themselves once they gain power or become "coopted." The list of "sundry weeds" directly links these coopted "trans flowers" to historically oppressive behaviors: censorship, book burning, and policing of speech. This implies a cyclical view of power, where yesterday's oppressed can become tomorrow's oppressor, adopting the tactics of the "man" they initially resisted. The poem challenges the inherent moral righteousness sometimes attributed to marginalized groups, suggesting that their actions, if they mirror the suppressive tactics of the dominant power, should be subjected to the same scrutiny and potential condemnation. It provokes a discussion on whether the means of achieving liberation can themselves become illiberal, leading to a new "stranglehold" on expression and thought.
identity politics, social movements, power dynamics, oppression, liberation, censorship, political correctness, cancel culture, polemic, metaphor, "trans" identities, gender identity, race, cooptation, resistance, critical theory.