You Define Your Destiny

by Viktoriah Cook
(Stone mountain, GA, USA)

I always imagined a daughter being a living walking reflection of me

I imagined her strong, beautiful, independent and proud

She is all but one…

She comes to me troublesome, saying she is less than beautiful

Saying she is not proud

Saying she wants to look like this and that

But I say no

I say they do not define you, only you define you and only you can set your limits

Don’t let them trap you in a cage

Because you’re like a bird, you’re my bird and as of today

I’m setting you free—

Because only you define your destiny