Audio of blue boots by Meg Torwl from QUIRKE event, recording by Diane Hollands.

blue boots

ever since I got these
solid, baby blue boots
straight women
and male bicycle couriers
of undetermined persuasion
now talk to me in elevators

so attired
with cornflower blue
soft woolen wrap
strangers feel compelled to caress
they hold an edge
in their hand in wonder
looking at me
go on I say
you know you want to
something primevaly comforting
as they brush their face against it

I sit on a bench
late at night
outside the closed mall
with my twin brother
the walking stick he carved me
between us
as we chew the rag
of our youth
a woman walking by
gives me the dirtiest downward look
don’t look at me in that tone of voice
i mutter under my breath
i reckon! bro says
he’s angry, confused

i’m used to it
people often look at me that way
welcome to my world
pick a reason
androgynous
queered
disabled
outspoken
elicits
contempt

people have
specific ideas
who fits in
and does not
where we should be
with whom
dressed how
what we can
and can not
be allowed
to do
and say

mostly
i stopped
taking
any notice
years ago

I will continue
to have
my say
in my work
sharing voice
with the un-fitting
in our perfectly
fitted
boots.

©  Meg Torwl

BIO: Meg Torwl is a writer, director and producer, working in media since 2000. With a background in photography, poetry and performance, and an interest in programming and new media. Balancing Acts in Calgary commissioned her to produce a 40 minute spoken word performance entitled ‘that’s so gay’ for their December 2009 Festival about solidarity across lines of gender, sexuality, disability, race, and species (in the case of purple star fish!). Her work has been published, performed, screened, broadcast and exhibited in New Zealand, Canada, USA, and the UK. She has worked in radio, producing and presenting 50 half hour programs (2007 – 2008) for One in Five, Radio New Zealand Nationals, a disability focused program, including a 6 part series on Disability, Relationships and Sexuality. She is a commentator with the NZ Disability Media Collective and she talks about her artistic practice as the Featured Creative of the Month in September 2009 with an interview on Creative Momentum. She has produced 3 new media projects and 4 documentary films, which are distributed by Video Out.

Her Radio Programs are on the web at: Radio New Zealand National and MeThings.com

You can read her blog at http://integrialmedia.blogspot.com/