she lived two, multiple genders
through her pelvic losses
in puberty
her first gender crossing
her exhibition of what was to come
she lived her life
through her paintings,
through diego, trotsky,
josephine baker,
her bed
of lovers
culturally mixed
political comrades (?)
her paintings
her symbology,
a documentation,
and realism
of her life lived
painting her body pain
“agonized poetry on canvas”
said diego
speaking before her
1st exhibition in mexico
yet kahlo painted her/our life
relationships, tragedy, politics
and the feeling of disembodiment that comes with pain
elizabeth carney has a doctorate in history, gender & women’s studies, and a master of arts in liberal studies and english literature. she is a college professor in the united states, who teaches history, english, and humanities courses.