Exactly As I Am

Rae White’ s compelling second poetry collection Exactly As I Am rises from their lived experience as a non-binary transgender person. Their gloriously defiant, unruly poems dissect and scrutinise the spaces transgender people are both assigned and denied in society, through unflinching explorations of gender identity, gender discrimination and gender euphoria. These bracing poems lean towards you, hold out their hand and offer you: a connection, a community, an emboldened call to action.

Rae White is a non-binary transgender poet, writer and zinester. Their poetry collection Milk Teeth won 2017 Arts Queensland Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize, was shortlisted for 2019 Victorian Premier’ s Literary Awards and commended in the 2018 Anne Elder Award. Rae’ s short story 'The Body Remembers' placed second in 2019 Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction. Their poem ‘ what even r u?’ placed second in 2017 Judith Wright Poetry Prize. Rae’ s poetry has been published in Australian Poetry Journal, Cordite Poetry Review, Meanjin Quarterly, Overland, Rabbit and others.

Exclude Lifelike gut punch Vital signs Hussshhh magic 8-ball Transactions My kink is late capitalism, baby Check in Do more, do better The Truest Crime Bloody Customer Feedback Survey Side effects : paint me over Exist if there’ s nothing out there, why am I searching? house-bound in the cursed rental Hot, cold home watchful and dust What have you done? Don’ t feed as climate change descends, i wait to be immortalised a half-eaten succulent addresses the possum made your bed Visitors the burning & the ________ {we three are witness Somewhat safe Gender marker were #NatureIsHealing Discussing polyamory in the workplace: now > winter the island rule(r) to rest The last tourist Exclaim life outside the pouch ringtail, in memoriam poach breach pre-passive I’ ve got something to say taste ~ silver ~ wanna cyber??? ;))) who, what, why, where assumptions not classified Request / / Response Rainbow confetti pixels Exhale levitate me, lover bodies / your body to voyage with loved ones who transition Periphery this one room we’ ve got this What if we gilled and :: glow ... xx Safe words when I said I wanted to be choked this is not what I meant aglow, I inhale Dirty, clean seaworthy~ likeness of submersions Exalt you hold a lot of tension in your body flourish, viola the good boy two figures The three genders: women, men, consumerism destination. journey : Worlds, woven clear skies Abundantly blue Wheelie bin queer platonic love dearest friend, it’ s all just meta, baby house hunters not unlike love trans (gender) I am myself Notes Acknowledgements