Honest Poetry

I'm A Young Lady

I'm A Young Lady

one time when i was little

my father gripped the collar

of my jacket a little too tight

and shook me

a little too hard.

he said,

"don't you ever back talk me,

young lady."

i've been a young lady for eight years now.

i'm not afraid to tell my father what i think

because my opinions matter.

right?

just last week i stood up

squared my shoulders

and i told him

"daddy i don't want to be a

young lady anymore.

i wanna throw tantrums on the floor.

i want my imagination to expand and i want

nap time in my own dream land.

i want my room in pinks and purples

and tomorrow i don't want to see the people

that made me feel older than i really am."

he told me he was never more proud of me

for saying what's on my mind.

oh, and it's okay to fall apart sometimes.

-Noelle Burchfield ft. Tia Watson