1 minute read
The Final Act
Emilie Stanley
Photo collaboratively taken by Caitlyn King and Emilie Stanley.
Advertisement
About the poem:
As someone who identifies as a non-binary gay individual, I find that our culture puts a lot of pressure on people to have a solid understanding of their identity. That is, if you're going to be different, be proud of who you are! Consequently, figuring out your identity is a huge process, and within that process, you may even experience periods of uncertainty, fluidity and ambiguity.
I wrote the poem "The Final Act" with the intention of expressing the voices within me that strive for perfection and a solid understanding of my identity. The word "denouement" is a term that describes the end of a play when the conflict has been resolved. To me, this reflects how I do not want to want to reveal the uncertainty in my identity, especially because I went through such great extents to reach where I am now.
The photograph was taken through the eye of a mask, and it is to show how, even though at times I appear proud and confident, on the inside, I still have a sense of uncertainty in who I am.
Ultimately, as a culture, I think we need to start embracing fluidity, growth and diversity instead of always labelling people before they are ready.
