Subject to Change: Trans Poetry & Conversation

by H. Melt (Editor), Joshua Jennifer Espinoza (Contributor), Christopher Soto (Contributor)

Subject to Change is an anthology celebrating the work of five poets who are unapologetically trans: Joshua Jennifer Espinoza, Christopher Soto, beyza ozer, Cameron Awkward-Rich, and Kay Ulanday Barrett. Featuring poetry and interviews, this collection is a testament to the power of trans poets speaking to one another—about family, race, class, disability, religion, and the body. This anthology includes a range of trans experiences and poetics, expanding the possibilities of what it means to be both trans and a writer in the twenty-first century.

Genres: Poetry, Queer, LGBT, Anthologies, Transgender, Nonfiction, Queer Lit

110 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2017

About the author

H. Melt is a poet, artist, and educator whose work proudly celebrates Chicago’s queer and trans communities. Their writing has appeared many places including In These Times, The Offing, and Them, the first trans literary journal in the United States. They are the author of The Plural, The Blurring and editor of Subject to Change: Trans Poetry & Conversation. Lambda Literary awarded them the Judith A. Markowitz Award for Emerging LGBTQ Writers in 2017. They’ve also been named to Newcity’s Lit 50 list, as well as Windy City Times’ 30 under 30. H. Melt co-leads Queeriosity at Young Chicago Authors and works at Women & Children First, Chicago’s feminist bookstore.

Reviews

[zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

looooved this book, loved the interviews with each poet that followed the selected poems. more transness featured everywhere please!! especially in literary spaces.

[Robyn Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

intersectional queer honest art. what more could you want? if existing every day is giving you battle scars, here's a gentle back rub.

[Gertrude Carrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trans poets I know and read dont mess around. They’re not going to muddy their meaning with pedantic vernacular and outdated cultural references. Right to the point: house music and broken, brown bodies. These voices are essential, and the compilation does a great job of bringing QPOC voices to the front with no dilly dallying for white liberals. This is real shit, real stories and an beautifully brunt read.

[Mills College Library]

810.8092 S9415 2017

[Linda Stack-Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful selection of voices in a really cool format; hearing from the poets in both verse and conversation really gives a special insight into their processes. I'm excited to read more from all of them now!

[Mya Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly drawn to Christopher Soto's and Cam Awkward Rich's work. Damn.

[Jess]

NR. This was a really cool way to ~sample~ five poets in one go! I loved getting to know their style and hear their non-poetry voice as they talked about gender, writing, etc.

This had a VERY palpable 2017 era anxiety throughout — not a good or a bad thing, just noticeable and I’m sure influenced the collection.

At times it did feel a little too publicity-focused for my taste, but I think that’s just the comms professional in me being picky.

Overall: Great concept and execution of you want to read more genderqueer poetry!

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading this anthology earlier this afternoon, and am so grateful it exists in the world. There were so many perspectives in just a short 103 pages, so many intersections of identity, and while everyone's work was in conversation with each other, each writer clearly had their own, unique voice. I'm eager to go out and buy their individual collections now (particularly Beyza Ozer's, whose work really drove the knife through). Very grateful for this collection, and looking forward to reading more of their poetry.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite poems from this collection:
"Home [Chaos Theory] - Christopher Soto, who may be my new favorite poet. This gave me an emotional breakdown on the meaning of the word "home."
"Essay on the Theory of Motion" - Cameron Awkward-Rich. I think I have a new understanding of the word "transition."
"Homebois Don't Write Enough" and " YOU are SO Brave" - Kay Ulanday Barrett, the latter of which made me cry.

[Greg Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning collection of trans poetry and interviews edited by the fantastic H. Melt. Their choices in poets and conscious, revealing questions make this book invaluable. We need more trans voices speaking out, and I'm grateful for H. Melt's work to make this happen!

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful collection of trans poetry and conversations with the poets. Special chance to become familiar with a poet's work and then learn about their creative process and mindset. No surprise that Sibling Rivalry Press put out this innovative and important collection.

[Dean Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read with many QTPOC/TGNC writers that left me feeling fulfilled, validated, and visible.

[Grant Showalter-Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful, heart-breaking, and relevant collection of poems I’ve read in a long time!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the poetry (will be reading more from all authors), and the conversation, and all the Chicago connections.

[Melissa Helton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and moving read. The poems and discussion could be very educational for cis, white, able-bodied people... a moment to sit still and listen.

[Celeste Murillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williams Reads 2020

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many tabs in this one

[Mars R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. I much desire immediately acquiring it and also forcing it on my book club. :D

[cacio e petal · Rating 1 out of 5]

i try really hard to appreciate poetry but i cant do it; this one star is a personal failure

[reg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cameron Awkward-Rich!!!!!!!

[TA Inskeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good anthology by a press that does superb anthologies. You get a good sample of each poets work, and the conversations are really enlightening. Although fair warning, you'll want to buy every poets books after you read (though you should want to, anyway)