Poem By: Zara Shea, Notary Public
Stephanie walks through the city each day,
Hopes the stares and whispers won’t drag her astray,
Cruel words bite and rattle like gravel and glass,
Trying to tell her she’s not a woman, so crass.
She patches her wounds with a steady stride,
Yet venom still follows, refusing to subside,
Even her doorway can’t quiet the fear,
Of who might arrive and what hate she’ll hear.
When papers need seals and her future needs ink,
She trembles to think what a stranger might think,
Will they judge her reflection, refuse to show grace,
Or honor her truth with compassion in place?
Then Stephanie finds peace when her cursor clicks,
Revealing the LGBTQ Friendly Notary Directory mix;
Handpicked by LGBTQ Notary Association’s name,
Each notary pledges impartiality and treats her the same.
A mobile professional crosses her floor,
Kindness flowing through hallway and door,
Their stamp on the page rings a promise of peace,
Her breathing grows calm, and her worries release.
Within her home, bias meets no dwelling place,
Her documents are sealed, calm softening her face,
LGBTQ Notary Association stands there to care,
Offering impartial hands, she finds solace there.
Now papers complete, her spirit renewed,
She steps past the pavement with proof in her view,
The world may still mutter its ignorant spite,
Yet her signature shines, and her future is bright.