Back when I did a lot of journaling, poetry was a small piece of it. But I haven’t written a poem in so very long. Since middle school, or maybe high school, if I had to guess. And then this one just casually flowed out of me a few nights ago. Inspired by two resonant words that someone recently said to me: “be strong.” Cheers to a new month, new mercies, and renewed strength!
Be strong
Put on my big girl pants and do my hair
Dismiss comparisons or strife on what’s fair
Hold my tongue, fix my face
Accept my lot, thank God for grace
Be strong
I’ll write the words that I can not find
Create the magic, sign it mine
Pour my heart out, hope to fly
And if I don’t, at least I tried
Be strong
But that’s not good enough, that’s not peace
Failure, heartbreak, heartache, such a beast
Strength feels like it’s made me bitter and hard
Girl don’t let your heart be shrunken by scars
Be strong
Put on my big girl pants and push my way through
Question myself a time or two
Question it all, to be frankly legit
Even question the thing that won’t let me quit
Be strong
Put on my big girl pants and wing my eyes
Listen to God, the Spirit inside
Be strong, be strong, be strong, be strong
This is my story; this is my song
Be strong
Art by: Monica Ahanonu/Instagram
