daughter
i will raise a daughter—
one whose lips will be chapped and her eyes
will glitter like gunpowder, not like the stars—
one whose hands will be calloused, not soft
and her knees will not buckle
at the thought
of a common fear—
one whose beauty is in strength,
and she is not bound by the ever-tightening
ropes that wrap around her femininity,
choking out
her love for the color pink
and the expectation that her hands and heart are gentle—
one who is not perfect or pristine
and her skin will not have the gleam
of woven silk—
one who will not know how to sing;
notes will not flow through her throat
like an angel’s melody
or a soft, gentle wind—
one who will not question herself
or the people she loves
or the people she’s been.
i will raise a daughter—
one who stands tall and strong,
her feet grounded
in her own reality.