Girl

Girl, do you wish to laugh? Is there a tickle inside your belly that stretches all the way to your armpit?
Go ahead, cast your head back and let your laughter out, staccato or waterfall. Don’t let anything stop you!
Girl, laugh!


And if the corners of your mouth ever wanted to curve down, on account of your heart being heavy;
Girl, cry!

Open your mouth wide and let the ugly sound right out of you. Let your tears mix with the rivers coming from your nose. Who said you had to do it pretty?


Girl, if your mind is set on going somewhere, it’s ok to go alone. You just place your left before your right and keep on moving. Take it slow if you have to,
But girl, take that journey!

If you get scared on the way, don’t turn back! Only keep a small seed of faith inside your heart.
Because you see, girl, the mountaintops can withstand your weight too.
There, you may feel like dancing, don't halt yourself.
Do it girl!

Lift up the sides of your dress, twirl that skirt, or stick your hands deep in your pants pocket. You choose. It’s your sound, your music. It’s your move, so dance!


You may not feel that you belong, but where would this world be without you?
You who shelter the seed in your womb to fill up every corner of the land.
You who gently rock the baby boys and speak softly to the baby girls,
You who carry the breasts that feed, among men, the very best.
You decide that you belong and then you stay; as a girl and a woman!