After we contributed to a fundraising poetry drive in July 2014, a poem was written for us by 15-year-old Addissyn, a participant in WriteGirl, an innovative Los Angeles-based writing and mentoring organization that matches girls with women writers to promote creativity, self-expression, and leadership skills to empower girls. This is her “pretty faces” and we’re so honored to, once again, spotlight the power of a girl and her pen.
pretty faces
by Addissyn, age 15
thats not all we are
we are a new kind of
generation
empowering an entire race
from the ground up
we do far more than he ever has done
women are a certain birth
of superheroes
oppressed and neglected
but
we don’t ever stop going
mothers – daughters – sisters
AND
doctors – lawyers – writers – store owners
we are more than this world
gives us credit for
while we work
we feed our children
take them to soccer
go on dates
get married
have a drink
go to a concert
women do not fill
one shape
we are thousands of bodies
building a better life
than any man could muster
finding ways to be happy
by making others happy too
we are the
roots branches and leaves
of the same tree
pretty block letters
carved into us like lies and truths
a smile even when the day sucks
we blow in the wind
encouraging a breeze
whispering tales of untold dreams
bathing our babies
and kissing our lovers
we are a kind of
superhero race
we don’t wear capes
or a flashy sign
we don’t need fancy shoes
to walk through life
or perfect hair
or girly clothes
hair gets wind blown
clothes are supposed to comfort
nails get chipped
we are still beautiful
still living life to the maximum capacity
feeding our children
bathing them
kissing our lovers
having a drink
we are a race of
superheroes
we’re going to shape
the future
we are more than just
pretty faces