“You inspire me”, the words left my lips as

I stared at my aunt in awe

standing up against the hate she saw.

Her passion was raw.

 

She raised me, instilled in me,

To believe in the possibilities I see.

She taught me that I was strong,

That it was okay to sometimes be wrong.

To love and to care,

To fight for what’s fair.

 

She showed me the power of women,

The power that came with a light that won't dimmen.

Now my light shines bright.

I feel every need to fight.

 

When I start the nonprofit, and I encourage the girls.

When I teach them to love their gender,

from their toes to their curls.

When they see me fighting for equal pay,

Or for the perpetuation of rape culture to go away.

When I love all girls the way I love myself,

When I have my own book sitting on a shelf.

If they ask me why, I’ll simply reply,

“She inspired me.”