Poetry by Ayla Baig

Edited by Kaylie Harley

you are not
indebted to your mother’s
wants and needs and dreams
she loves, you, you, you 
are enough for her.

you are not
a child anymore, fourteen
and afraid that your precious
feelings for her will bring 
are enough for her.

you are not
confined to the expectations, 
of pink shoelaces,
and white-washed barbie dolls,
that only signify
someone they ask you to be

you are not
stones that stack into
towers, cowering back
at the prospect of overcoming
fear.

you are not
forfeiting yourself
to that image of a girl,
you will never be,

you are
better
             than you used to be.
than you think you are.
are enough for her.

---

Artist Statement: For the longest time, my existence was both guided and determined by the expectations set by those who loved me. As I grew into having autonomy over my life, these words became a mantra I had to recite in order to believe I deserved to be independent of my expectations. You are not who they want you to be.