Shirley

“i do not expect my child’s respect.
just because i have given birth to their life.
does not mean they owe me.
anything.
what i want most
is to look into my child’s eyes
and
see
that i have given birth
to
a
heart.
have
honored.
held and feed.
someones
heart.
from the moment we first met.
and
they love me for it.”
― Nayyirah Waheed

“listen to my poems
but do not look for me
look for you.”
― Nayyirah Waheed, Salt

“expect sadness
like
you expect rain.
both,
cleanse you.”
― Nayyirah Waheed

“you
not wanting me
was
the beginning of me
wanting myself
thank you”
― Nayyirah Waheed