Love You As I Do

Child, why do you say such things?

Who taught you to use those words?

It certainly wasn’t your momma.

Or your daddy.

Or any of the boys I see swooning over your pretty 17 year old self.

You ought not speak to yourself that way.

You were gorgeous then and you’re gorgeous now.

You carry yourself with such grace

And auspicion

And a willingness that never stops shy of what it wants -

Perfection, and a need for it.

That’s a damn shameful way to talk,

And aren’t you glad you grew out of it.

Because when you talk to yourself like that,

You talk to me that way.

And I ain’t havin’ it.

Girl, we are beautiful.

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