Write a Girl - by Siobhán Walsh, age 12

Write a girl that’s happy.

Write a girl that’s kind.

Write a girl that’s on her own.

Write one that knows her mind.

Write a girl that’s strong.

Write a girl that’s weak.

Write a girl that wants true love.

Write one that’s soft and meek.

Write a girl that’s optimistic.

Write a girl that’s glum.

Write a girl that knows she’s bright.

Write one that knows she’s dumb.

Write a girl with with many friends.

Write a girl with none.

Write a girl that faces her fears

And write a girl that runs.

You wrote boys that were happy.

You wrote boys that were kind.

You wrote boys that were on their own.

You wrote ones that knew their minds.

You wrote boys that were strong.

You wrote boys that were weak.

You wrote the boys that found true love.

You wrote boys that were soft and meek.

You wrote boys that were optimistic.

You wrote boys that were glum.

You wrote boys that knew they were bright

And wrote ones that knew they were dumb.

You wrote the boys with many friends.

You wrote the boys with none.

You wrote the boys that face their problems

And you wrote the ones that run.

We don’t want badass characters,

We want girls that are real.

We want complex characters,

Girls that make us feel.

So write a girl with fears and flaws,

One that somehow flew.

Write a girl that’s her own person

Because girls are people too.