Gender Neutral        

by Jane Muschenetz


They’re studying the effects of gendering on language
and cultural norms,
how the moon is feminine in Spanish and Russian
but masculine in German
how this alters
our perception of its qualifications –
whether we believe it to be
beautiful, changeable (f) or
stoic, abrupt (m) –
over 1000 Google links discuss at length

The moon is the moon

Some promote doing away with sex, but I
(having learned gender from my Mother Tongue
and feeling its lack like a missing limb when I try bending English)
am fascinated, mouth-hungry
to embrace each understanding of our world,
uncomfortable and broken as it is
learning to speak again and again –
There is something revealing
about seeing the moon
through every lexiconic, scientific, and artistic notion
and still not having enough
words to fill the sky


* * * * *

"Gender Neutral" was first published in Writers Resist (Winter 2021) and is part of Jane Muschenetz's chapbook All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents (Kelsay Books, 2023)

Ukrainian-born, Russian-speaking Jew, Jane Muschenetz came to the US as a child refugee from the USSR. Her first chapbook, All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents, was published in 2023 (Kelsay Books). Connect with Jane at www.PalmFrondZoo.com, and in various publications.