“I want to love, but my hair smells of war and running and running.” WantWarRunningHairSmell Author:Warsan Shire
“Essentially, if our secrets are secrets because we are told to be ashamed, then we must share them. There is no shame in being sad or struggling or trying to heal. We are all desperate, depraved and sacred. We are all terrible and brillIant. I can list all the things that can make a girl want to escape her own body (re: patriarchy). But I’d rather list all the things that make me want to stay in my body, and adorn it like a home, rub oils into my skin, tell it how sorry I am for trying to leave, for trying to hurt it into submission” IfsWantTryingI CanHomeBodyGirlHurtSecretStruggleShareTerribleSkinsShameSacredSorryOilBrilliantListsHealDesperateAshamedPatriarchySubmissionDepravedBeing Sad Author:Warsan Shire
“When I love, I love: wholly, thoroughly, completely, drowning in everything. Every glance can be a conversation, eyes just playing and saying what needs to be said. Silence is loud, and the air becomes heavy. I want you. I want all of you.” WantNeedsSaidEyeSilenceAirConversationHeavyLoudI Want YouGlancesSilence IsDrowning Author:Warsan Shire
“And you tried to change, didn't you? Closed your mouth more. Tried to be softer, prettier, less volatile, less awake... You can't make homes out of human beings. Someone should have already told you that. And if he wants to leave, then let him leave. You are terrifying, and strange, and beautiful. Something not everyone knows how to love.” IfsKnowsWantShouldHumansHomeBeautifulHuman BeingsBreakKnow HowStrangeMouthsShould HaveAwakeBreak UpHow To LoveShire Author:Warsan Shire
“I’m not sad, but the boys who are looking for sad girls always find me. I’m not a girl anymore and I’m not sad anymore. You want me to be a tragic backdrop so that you can appear to be illuminated, so that people can say ‘Wow, isn't he so terribly brave to love a girl who is so obviously sad?’ You think I’ll be the dark sky so you can be the star? I’ll swallow you whole.” PeopleThinkingWantWholeGirlStarsDarkBoysSkyBraveTragicWowWant MeFind MeYou Want MeBackdropShireDark Sky Author:Warsan Shire
“Give your daughters difficult names. Give your daughters names that command the full use of the tongue. My name makes you want to tell me the truth. My name doesn't allow me to trust anyone that cannot pronounce it right.” WantGivingUseNamesDifficultDaughterTongueCommandOur DaughterYour DaughterShireTell Me The Truth Author:Warsan Shire
“The sun is perfect and you woke this morning. You have enough language in your mouth to be understood. You have a name, and someone wants to call it. Five fingers on your hand and someone wants to hold it. If we just start there, every beautiful thing that has and will ever exist is possible. If we start there, everything, for a moment, is right in the world.” IfsWorldWantEnoughMomentsHandsBeautifulNamesLanguagePerfectMorningSunFiveMouthsUnderstoodFingersBeautiful ThingsVery BeautifulFive Fingers Author:Warsan Shire
