Bodies in transition
Bodies in Transition is a collection of poems that delves into the deeply personal journey of G. Gazelka as they navigate the complexities of their queer and trans identity. Through evocative verses, Gazelka captures the essence of transitioning—both in body and spirit—while reckoning with societal challenges and seeking self-acceptance. From the struggle of childhood memories to the triumph of self-discovery and resilience, this collection offers a powerful and intimate look at the human experience, resonating with anyone who has ever sought to find their true self.
Bodies in Transition is a collection of poems about the transition of spaces and bodies. Capturing memories as early as childhood, G. Gazelka covers fundamental periods of development in their queer and trans identity and reckoning with social justice. In 2006, their father, at the time a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, introduced a bill to define marriage as between one man and one woman while they were just discovering their queer identity. He sent them to a clinic which has been accused of practicing conversion therapy. Unchanged, their parents kicked them out of the family. They spent 10 years away from their family’s home struggling to find systems of support, survive, and become a man. Many of these poems deal with their social and physical transition after they returned to Minnesota in 2017. Due to the issues of legality surrounding trans identities, one of the poems “Everyone Bleeds” even references how they were sent out of state to North Dakota for a diagnosis of mental illness after speaking to reporters about how they had and were experiencing conversion therapy for their sex and sexual identity. At the forefront of the fight for equality, G. Gazelka believes these poems dealing with discrimination, longing for love, and belonging will resonate with their readers.
tender one
Tender One by G. Gazelka opens with a deeply personal poem about childhood, setting the stage for an original mythical narrative that intertwines vulnerability and resilience. The collection explores themes of longing, identity, and transformation, juxtaposing tender moments with powerful imagery. From the haunting symbolism in “In the Graveyard” to the spiritual reflections in “A Psalm,” Gazelka’s poems navigate the complexities of human experience, touching on sacrifice, love, and the search for purpose. This collection invites readers into a journey of introspection and emotional depth, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate heartfelt and thought-provoking poetry.
G. Gazelka opens Tender One with a personal poem about their childhood as a storyteller before sharing an original mythical narrative that is age appropriate. In “To Be Alone With You,” they emphasize their longing for a space where it is safe to be vulnerable like that again and how many others do, too. This storytelling narrative is interrupted by the imagery of a graveyard and the symbol of clawing oneself out of the ashes in the poem “In the Graveyard” as the speaker tries to find their voice—a “truth more audacious than stain-glass nudes perpetually shattered by insatiable longing.” In the next poem, they are greeted by Shakti who questions if they are not yet ready for a Kundalini awakening. Guided along the Abrahamic traditions, several poems then meditate on sacrifice, grace, humility, grief, loss, and compassion before “Bathsheba” and desire is introduced to the dialogue. Writing in the Davidic tradition, “A Psalm” sublimates this desire into spirituality. The theme of humility returns as G. Gazelka writes another personal poem “Pronounced Love at the Scene” in which they capture their difficulties with phonics and fear that they will never have the right words to say to a person. They imagine in “Vows” what they might say and in “Unmapped” deliver another powerful personal poem in the style of Elizabeth Bishop that they are not sure who they are if not their purpose. The final two poems are meditations they created in the style of The Way of Life.