Instructions for Little Girls
Instructions for Little Girls
An essay by Jen Dean
Lean in little girl and let me tell you secrets
The most important mandates
You will need to thrive here
Listen carefully, press my words into your heart
Heed these directives for the quality of your life
Relies on how you hear them
For there will be reams of papers bound into
Endless stacks of instructions in books
Librarian’s peering over spectacles
A proliferation of grown ups with arms crossed
Shaking heads and wagging fingers
In dismay at your actions
Words will be thrown at you by every wind
Rules to follow for “good girls”
They will tell you to be quiet and demure
That this is the desired volume for a female
For all that is holy you must
Learn how LOUD your voice can be
You will need to use that voice
Much sooner than you expect
Learn the strength of it early
They will advise you to be “nice”
Which really means
Do whatever they want
Accept lessons that make no sense
Put up with unkindness
Without making a peep
Don’t stand up for yourself and definitely
Don’t rock the boat
Trust me, you are going to want to
Rock that boat
It is imperative that you do so
Harder and harder
Until they all fall in
It’s for the best
A douce of cold water reality
Is what they need
They will tell you to cover yourself
Flowered dresses are for sweet girls
It is important to be pretty
Be modest and don’t show your skin
Your body is something to hide
Until they tell you not to
Tear off the clothes covering you and
Run naked through the forest
As the wild wolf you are
Remember yourself more and more
With every step
The only way to connect with your soul
Is to dance alone under the
Silken silver moon
To have your perfect bare skin
Touch the green glade of god
This is where you channel your true power
You will need it for this earth journey
Close your ears to all the rest
Trust yourself my child
Listen to your heart
You are always more right
Than you can know yet
Trust yourself completely
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