Some girls are like the wind.
Some girls are like the streams.
Some girls are like the soil.
Wispy,
Ever flowing,
Wholly rich.
Too kind,
Too gentle,
Too accommodating.
Flip through the magazines,
Scroll through the feed.
Watch every scene character :
Don’t be a doormat.
Don’t be shy.
Don’t be understanding.
Be tough.
Be hard.
Be you.
Clench your jaw.
Paint your lips.
Lift your chin.
You’re a soldier.
You’re a warrior,
you’re a game changer…
Should you?
They want you to.
Can you?
They want you to.
Will you?
They want you to.
But there’s a bird in your chest.
But there’s a feather in your eyelash.
But there’s a butterfly in your hair.
And there’s this little girl…
Who just wanted to have a friend.
Who just wanted to have her safe place.
Who just wanted to have her say.
But who was tormented for her
Gentleness
Kindness
Otherworld-ness
She’s looking at you…
Will you hurt me too?
Will you betray me too?
Will you scorn me too?
Turn it off.
The mesmerizing screens.
The endless noise.
The glaring images.
Tune in yourself.
Breath,
Beat
Be.
Soft,
Kind,
Gentle.
It’s a relief
Like a summer rain.
It’s a refuge,
Like the winter sun.
It’s a solace,
Like the autumn glow.
The little girl can go and play.
The young woman can go and dance.
The gentle woman can go and live.
Twirl
and twirl like a leaf.
Swirl,
and swirl like a feather.
Whirl,
and whirl like the ocean.
Never laking current,
Never lacking waves,
Never lacking depth
But gently finishing my course
Caressing,
Cherishing,
Lavishing
The sands.
The cliffs,
The crags.
With love.
And through,
Ages
Centuries,
Days,
Polishing their souks.
Softening their hearts.
Smoothing their bruises.
They will never cover me in metal.
They will never file me with rot.
They will never dip me into ciment.
There is no hardness here.
But there’s strength.
There is no bitterness here,
But there’s wisdom.
There is no ruthlessness here,
But there is mercy.
And freedom,
Oh so much freedom.
Free at last…
To run through the woods,
To fly over the mountains,
To glide over the sea.
To be kind.
To be loving.
To be forgiving.
Soft
Light
And serene.
Layla Ali Sultan 