A Trans Poet Speaking Across Selves: The Tender Dialogue in “Letter to My Body”

Letter to My Body is a poem in which Joy Ladin folds time and identity to create a conversation between her pre- and post-transition selves. Rather than treating the body as a passive object, she writes to it as a former companion, at times an intimate friend, at times a gentle adversary, yet ultimately an inseparable part of who she is. The poem traces the layered emotions of transition: grief for what was endured, compassion for the self that survived it, and awe at the possibility of becoming. By holding both selves in the same space, Ladin shows that transition is not a clean break but an ongoing dialogue, a reconciliation between versions of oneself that have long struggled to coexist. The poem’s meaning rests in this act of integration, acknowledging that healing emerges not from rejecting the past but from speaking to it with honesty, tenderness, and hard-won understanding. This animated adaptation of the work melds audio of Ladin reading the poem into a visual work of artistic expression.

Tidus is a registered psychologist and clinical registrar working toward specialisation in clinical psychology. His writing reflects a sustained engagement with ideas drawn from psychology, philosophy, and art. These opinion pieces are not clinical practice or therapeutic guidance; they are considered reflections informed by multidisciplinary theories and broader interests. Their purpose is to challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and invite meaningful thought.