Am I not a woman?

post-surgery reflection during pride month

If he and him desire to be she and her
is she not like me?
Am I not like her?
Feminine in feeling and in power, yet
lacking in form,
in anatomy.
She not born with the ability to create or procreate.
Me now absent of the ability to create or procreate.

Missing.
Is something missing?

A uterus,
simply,
only,
terrifying,
life-changing,
routine surgery,
intense surgery,
four to six weeks of recovery,
easily,
happily,
I have had my kids I do not need it anymore,
she and I now more similar than before.

Missing.
Is something missing?

Dictate to me, oh sweet patriarchy, dictate
to me.
What am I? Am I not,
no longer,
a woman?

I am whole
while there is a hole,
a gap,
a space to be filled and a space now gone.

I am she
and so is she,
together,
without uteri,
women.