to have survived, by Elliot Gray Boodhan

Poetry, chapbook, 40 pages, illustrated, from Bottlecap Features.

to have survived is a raw collection of poetry which delves into themes of gender identity, mental health, righteous indignation and healing. Confessional in nature, the collection is divided into three unequal parts, “in sadness,” “in anger” and “at peace,” each part growing as the speaker spends more time with their internal self. “in sadness” releases compounding anxieties surrounding acknowledging transgender identity and provides insight into the emotional and psychological turmoil that can come with living as one’s authentic self.

Meanwhile, “in anger” pivots to reveal a deep-seeded pain resulting from abuse and identity erasure, only to turn towards a reclamation of agency. “at peace” serves as a reminder that forgiveness is for those who have been wronged more so than those who have done wrong. This third and final part of the collection is a tribute to taking up space, both literally and metaphorically, as queer and transgender identifying individuals. Each poem is a celebration of reclaimed autonomy and self-love.

Elliot Gray Boodhan describes himself as “a sad philosopher just trying to create something that matters.” Elliot has been published in Free the Verse, Molecule: a tiny lit mag, Mistake House, new words {press}, Poet’s Choice, Five Minutes, Literally Lit, and Queeah. You can find him on Instagram @apoetgray.