Imagine
Imagine a girl.
Imagine a girl with dark brown eyes
being held by her mother
on the first day of her life
surrounded by family
and friends.
Imagine a girl with wispy short black hair
toddling around her house
staring wide-eyed with wonder
as the first snowflakes of winter fall
surrounded by the sense of home.
Imagine a girl with long black hair
walking into her first day of preschool
looking around for friends
and finding them
running to them
surrounded by warmth and kindness.
Imagine a girl with medium length hair and glasses,
going to school every day
running
jumping
laughing
surrounded by her friends
and teachers.
Imagine a girl with straightened black hair and wide-framed glasses
going to school
being so self conscious
wanting to be liked
surrounded by friends
teachers
family.
Imagine a girl, staring off into space
as she doodles on the edge of her notebook
daydreaming about that particular person as she sits in math class
Imagine her, staring out the window at the birds outside
longing to fly as they can
yearning to be free.
Imagine a girl, saying and doing things just to get attention
then acting offended if she gets noticed
imagine a girl who wants attention but is awkward and shy when she gets it
who never actually acts herself
who is jealous of everyone and everything
who is proud yet ashamed of herself
who is confident but meek
who cries if someone doubts her
imagine a girl always doubts herself.
Imagine a girl, sitting at the edge of her pink bedspread, late at night
staring into the night sky
searching for one particular star
and wishing on it
even though she’s now old enough
to know
that dreams won’t come true
unless you chase them yourself.
Imagine a girl with chipped nail polish and brown eyes
who’d rather be in the pool than practicing piano
but who’d rather be shopping than going for a run
who’d rather be sleeping than going to school
but who loves school so much she used to cry at the end of the year
who’d rather read a book than watch a movie
but who’d rather be with friends than be alone
who hates fairytales
who cries at sad movies
and sad books.
Imagine a girl
who tries so hard to hide who she truly is
but then tries so hard to express herself
who is too shy to tell that person how she really feels
but isn’t afraid of trying out for her school play
or acting in a musical.
Imagine a girl
for whom acting is easy
because if she’s playing a part, she’s not herself
imagine a girl
who secretly yearns to be the star
but always chooses the supporting role.
Imagine a girl who is
fragile
easily offended
always sarcastic
overly self conscious
somewhat arrogant
somewhat modest
too quiet
too loud.
Imagine a girl
who cries at night because of the things on the news
who wrote in her diary about everything then burned it, fearing for her secrets
who paints her nails with bright colors, then chips it all off within a week
who likes to wear dark and pastel colors “so she can hide”
who loves her brother
who hates her brother
who dreams of flying
of soaring
of being free.
Imagine a girl.