“Girl,

you were born with a fire inside you,

and this world is determined to stamp it out.

You will see it when you stand up for yourself

and you are told ‘It isn’t ladylike to raise your voice.’

You will hear it when you were something that hugs your body

and feel the uncomfortable sensation of being stripped naked

by the eyes of men who call you names you are still too young to understand.

You will know it when a man tries to use his strength

to have his way with you the first time,

and you need to use your fists/teeth/legs to get him off.

You will understand it when you see

your mother’s eyes filled with terror

because you are an hour later than you said you will be home.

But you must never let them take

those flames down from within your soul,

Instead, you must burn brighter than ever

because you are a Daughter of the Sun,

And you belong only to yourself, not to this world. ”