babygirl

babygirl,

before you even learn to speak they will tell you what you should not say and what you should not do

don’t let their words find a home in your bones and echo out of your mouth

when they tell you don’t jump, jump

when they tell you don’t scream, scream

when they tell you slow down, run faster

if you want to.

if you want to

bite into their orders, reinforce their fears

that your power is larger than this world,

for babygirl they will try to stop you from doing the things you certainly can do

(and they know you can do)

for babygirl they fear the universe inside of you.

• Nardine