A Wigwam for a Goose's Bridle

Hang in there, baby girl,
I know it’s dark,
and you’re alone and so afraid
but there’s a spark,
a hope for light and warmth,
a sense of purpose.
I see the strengths that
simmer ‘neath the surface.
I know you just feel different
but hold on tight
to that heightened sense of justice.
One day you’ll fight
not only for yourself
and the good you deserve
(yes, I know it will take time
but you’ll see your worth).
One day you will learn
the problem isn’t you.
It’s not your body,
nor your brain, nor anything you do.
You see, you’re neurospicy
hold on thirty more years
and you’ll find yourself at home
amongst neurodivergent peers,
and you’ll heal from all the trauma
and the lessons that you’ve learned
(and yes, I know the price was high,
I’ve seen the scars you’ll earn)
and you’ll become exactly
who you’re meant to be,
an advocate who champions
the beauty in diversity.
I know you’ll come to hate
when people compliment
your grit and your tenacity,
calling you resilient,
but the thing is that it’s true:
you’ve always had a way
of holding on and pushing through,
you don’t give in to pain,
and whilst I hope one day
you’ll learn to stop and rest,
learn to fill your own cup too,
for you deserve the best
(you’re worth joy and laughter,
your boundaries respected,
being loved the way you are,
celebrated and accepted)
I know the traits they now call faults
will stand you in good stead.
What’s now labeled aggressive
is just being direct.
Your lack of tact is honesty.
A bossy girl can lead.
Being opinionated means
that you’ll speak out when there’s a need.
I wish you didn’t fear
that you will never be enough.
I wish you didn’t question
if you’re worthy to be loved.
But one day you’ll look back
and see that all along,
you never were the problem
and don’t need to change to belong.
You’ll become the heroine
you wish would help you now,
you’ll fight for those who need one too,
you’ll enact change somehow.
You’ll sit with self compassion
and analyse your past,
and go back in your memories,
the storms you thought would last,
you’ll find yourself within
and you’ll embrace that inner child.
You’ll heal her with the love she needs,
you’ll watch her with a smile.
You’ll see her strengths and point them out
(she’ll struggle to believe you)
but you’ll just smile and hold her close
and say I hate to leave you,
knowing what you’re living through
and what is still to come,
but hold in there and know I’m proud
of who you will become.

Written in response to a prompt from The Unsealed – First Place