I’ll tell my daughter to love her body
I’ll tell her she must love it.

I’ll tell her to be proud of every bit of herself
From her tiger strips to her soft skin,
Whether there is little of them or a lot,
Whether freckles cover her face or not,
Whether her curves are plentiful or slim,
Whether her hair is thick, curly, long, shiny or dim.

I’ll tell her how she inherited
her ancestors’ soul in her beautiful smile,
that her eyes carry countries
that breathed life into histories,
that she is something with whom god blessed me.
that her weight,
doesn’t determine her destiny.

I’ll her her never to listen when her body is critiqued.
I’ll tell her that every woman is beautiful,
because every woman’s soul is unique,
with a heart so full, soft and graceful.