If I had a daughter
We would play together,
Seeking fairies
In the wild bushes,
We would run
In a field of dandelions,
And build castles,
Lots of them –
On the beach, and in the air;
I would braid her hair,
And we’d eat all the candy floss,
At the annual fair.

If I had a daughter,
I would teach her,
To take what is hers
Without fear,
To speak up –
For herself and for those around,
To pick her battles,
And win them.

If I had a daughter,
I would teach her
To be bold,
And not do only what she’s told,
I’d teach her to just ignore
The naysayers,
The well wishers,
The worldly wise,
The young, the old,
And the religious folks –
All of whom
Would try to break her,
So they could mold
A young person
Into one, of their liking –
Docile and subservient.

If I had a daughter,
I would tell her
To give the vicious world
Her anger,
I would fuel her hunger
To grab her place,
Her rightful place –
At the table, the banquet hall or the space!
Wherever it is,
That she believes,
She will find peace,
And happiness, lots of it!

Image Credit: Photo by Candace McDaniel on StockSnap