Daughter.

To the daughter I hope will never be born,

The daughter I never want to bring into this world.

The daughter who is better off as just an idea.

The daughter who I have always dreamed of

But would never want to conceive.

Why not a daughter?

What if you have a daughter?

What’s wrong with having a girl?

Are you a sexist?

Do you hate your own gender so much?

Would you bring a daughter into this world?

Would you want your little princess to grow up,

Eyes lurking at every corner,

Catcalls no matter what she wears,

Heart racing after dark,

Always wary.

Would you want to bring her up,

Protecting her as much as you can

Years and years of diligence,

Always warning her to be careful

To never let the old uncles get too close

To never open herself up to the wrong boy

Lest he take away her innocence

A little too soon.

To have a daughter

Would mean to raise her as a warrior

To arm her with weapons

To teach her to always keep her guard up

To train her to always be suspicious,

To finally let go and set her free

To allow her to see the world,

To cry when she comes back

And whispers to you
“He touched me…there.”

To have a daughter is to see yourself,

With those shining bright eyes

And the same pain you felt

All those years ago

When you told your mother…

“He touched me…there.”

To the daughter I hope will never be born,

I only wish I could make this world

A little better,

A little less frightening.

So you can be born

Because you would be

The most beautiful daughter.

And I could never bear

My beautiful daughter

Being defiled,

The way I was.

I could never bear

The lewd stares

Shifting from my body

To yours.

I could never bear

Watching my little baby

Growing up with

A scarred heart.

To the daughter who I hope will never be born,

This is the only way I know to save you.