Shannon > Shannon's Quotes

“My alone feels so good, I'll only have you if you're sweeter than my solitude.”
― Warsan Shire

“Your assumptions about the lives of others are in direct relation to your naïve pomposity. Many people you believe to be rich are not rich. Many people you think have it easy worked hard for what they got. Many people who seem to be gliding right along have suffered and are suffering. Many people who appear to you to be old and stupidly saddled down with kids and cars and houses were once every bit as hip and pompous as you.”
― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

“you are a horse running alone
and he tries to tame you
compares you to an impossible highway
to a burning house
says you are blinding him
that he could never leave you
forget you
want anything but you
you dizzy him, you are unbearable
every woman before or after you
is doused in your name
you fill his mouth
his teeth ache with memory of taste
his body just a long shadow seeking yours
but you are always too intense
frightening in the way you want him
unashamed and sacrificial
he tells you that no man can live up to the one who
lives in your head
and you tried to change didn't you?
closed your mouth more
tried to be softer
prettier
less volatile, less awake
but even when sleeping you could feel
him travelling away from you in his dreams
so what did you want to do love
split his head open?
you can't make homes out of human beings
someone should have already told you that
and if he wants to leave
then let him leave
you are terrifying
and strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love.”
― Warsan Shire

“Insularity is the bane of creativity only so far as we allow it to be.”
― Manjula Martin, Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living

“how far have you walked for men who’ve never held your feet in their laps?
how often have you bartered with bone, only to sell yourself short?
why do you find the unavailable so alluring?
where did it begin? what went wrong? and who made you feel so worthless?
if they wanted you, wouldn’t they have chosen you?
all this time, you were begging for love silently, thinking they couldn’t hear you, but they smelt it on you, you must have known that they could taste the desperate on your skin?
and what about the others that would do anything for you, why did you make them love you until you could not stand it?
how are you both of these women, both flighty and needful?
where did you learn this, to want what does not want you?
where did you learn this, to leave those that want to stay?”
― Warsan Shire

“the year of letting go, of understanding loss. grace. of the word ‘no’ and also being able to say ‘you are not kind’. the year of humanity/humility. when the whole world couldn’t get out of bed. everyone i’ve met this year, says the same thing ‘you are so easy to be around, how do you do that?’. the year i broke open and dug out all the rot with own hands. the year i learnt small talk. and how to smile at strangers. the year i understood that i am my best when i reach out and ask ‘do you want to be my friend?’. the year of sugar, everywhere. softness. sweetness. honey honey. the year of being alone, and learning how much i like it. the year of hugging people i don’t know, because i want to know them. the year i made peace and love, right here.”
― Warsan Shire

“I have my mother’s mouth and my father’s eyes; on my face they are
still together.”
― Warsan Shire

“I belong deeply to myself.”
― Warsan Shire, Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth

“i give myself five days to forget you.
on the first day i rust.
on the second i wilt.
on the third day i sit with friends but i think about your tongue.
i clean my room on the fourth day. i clean my body on the fourth day.
i try to replace your scent on the fourth day.
the fifth day, i adorn myself like the mouth of an inmate.
a wedding singer dressed in borrowed gold.
the midas of cheap metal.
tinsel in the middle of summer.
crevice glitter, two days after the party.
i glow the way unwanted things do,
a neon sign that reads;
come, i still taste like someone else’s mouth.”
― Warsan Shire

“I’m not sad, but the boys who are looking for sad girls always find me. I’m not a girl anymore and I’m not sad anymore. You want me to be a tragic backdrop so that you can appear to be illuminated, so that people can say ‘Wow, isn't he so terribly brave to love a girl who is so obviously sad?’ You think I’ll be the dark sky so you can be the star? I’ll swallow you whole.”
― Warsan Shire

“i don't know when love became elusive
what i know, is that no one i know has it
my fathers arms around my mothers neck
fruit too ripe to eat, a door half way open
when your name is a just a hand i can never hold
everything i have ever believed in, becomes magic.

i think of lovers as trees, growing to and
from one another searching for the same light,
my mothers laughter in a dark room,
a photograph greying under my touch,
this is all i know how to do, carry loss around until
i begin to resemble every bad memory,
every terrible fear,
every nightmare anyone has ever had.

i ask did you ever love me?
you say of course, of course so quickly
that you sound like someone else
i ask are you made of steel? are you made of iron?
you cry on the phone, my stomach hurts

i let you leave, i need someone who knows how to stay.”
― Warsan Shire

“fit in here, in my palm, in my shadow, don’t be bigger than my idea of you, don’t be more beautiful than i can accept, don’t be more human than i am willing to allow you to be and be quiet, you’re too loud, even your un-belonging is loud. quiet your dreams, your voice, your hair, quiet your skin, quiet your displacement, quiet your longing, your colour, quiet your walk, your eyes. who said you could look at me like that? who said you could exist without permission? why are you even here? why aren’t you shrinking? i think of you often. you vibrate. you walk into a room and the temperature changes. i lean in and almost recognise you as human. but, no. we can’t have that.”
― Warsan Shire

“No matter how bad you want a person, if your hearts are in two different places, you’ll have to pass and move on.”
― Alexandra Elle

“The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely.”
― Alexandra Elle

“When you live in love and light, you will not go unseen; ignite the world with every flame of your being.”
― Alexandra Elle, Words from a Wanderer

“You are a Queen, so even when they push you, don't take the crown off.”
― Alexandra Elle, Words from a Wanderer

“When you are truly stunning, gorgeous and beautiful, you won’t have to prove that to anyone visually.”
― Alexandra Elle

“Keep in mind that the reason you know you can be good to others is only because you've taken strides to be better for and to yourself.”
― Alexandra Elle, Words from a Wanderer

“The sunlight isn't the only thing that makes me happy anymore now that I can endure my storms.”
― Alexandra Elle, Words from a Wanderer

“I value loyalty way too much to waste it on folks who don't value me.”
― Alexandra Elle

“Protect your space and circle. Invest in people who you know will feed you just as much goodness as you do them.”
― Alexandra Elle

“Dear Self,   You have been doubted, hated, talked about, made fun of, hurt, lied to, lied on, broken and at your wits end. With that being said, I commend you for the fact that you are still standing. Your courage speaks volumes! I know your struggle and the pain you’ve endured. You are more than a conqueror. I am proud to say that your heart belongs to me. Nothing can keep you down and no one can steal your joy. All of your storms have ended up blessing the sky with rainbows. Don’t give up, continue to stand tall and love yourself first. You are appreciated, Self”
― Alexandra Elle Smith, Words from a Wanderer

“#anote2self Dear Self, Your king is coming. Please continue to be patient. You’ve kissed some frogs and you’ve learned some lessons. Now it’s time to prepare yourself and Queendom for the ONE who is worthy. I know you get lonely and worried but fear not, your love is being prepared carefully and especially”
― Alexandra Elle Smith, Words from a Wanderer

“True beauty will radiate regardless. It's not your duty to remove the blinders of those who choose not to see you. Light illuminates light.”
― Alexandra Elle

“silence can sometimes save you. everything doesn’t warrant words.”
― Alexandra Elle

“Perfection isn’t welcomed here; I’d like to see your flaws.”
― Alexandra Elle, Words from a Wanderer

“Love isn’t supposed to hurt us; it’s meant to heal. You are worthy of the real thing. Find that mutual respect and adoration will follow suit.”
― Alexandra Elle Smith, Words from a Wanderer

“If you ask and get no answer sometimes the silence that bounces back is the loudest truth. Be appreciative and open hearted to any stillness you receive. Everything isn’t meant to be yours and everyone isn’t worthy enough to hold a place in your space.”
― Alexandra Elle Smith, Words from a Wanderer

“Love without peace will leave you with nothing but chaos. A peaceful love cannot exist without balance and respect. Expect nothing and your spirit will accept all of the goodness that’s meant for you in this life.”
― Alexandra Elle Smith, Words from a Wanderer

“I will never be scared to love me.
I am a force to be reckoned with.
I am beautiful.”
― Alexandra Elle