To the girls who laugh like rainbows and cast sparkles across rooms and onto strangers with more curiosity than caution:
Don’t be surprised.
Don’t be surprised when you put yourself so far out there that they can’t handle the cost of return.
Don’t be surprised when they are attracted to the glow of your fire
the span of your wings
and then try to pin you into
perfect
static
place.
Don’t be surprised when they admire you and don’t offer you the chance to return the favor.
Don’t be surprised when in solemn and mature voices they tell you that they wish they could be more like you
and maybe they could’ve been
once.
Don’t be surprised to find that you rebuild best after razing
that your pedestals grow taller with each generation of your lush forest.
Take with a grain of salt all those who would endeavor to undo your glory.
It is more than jealousy
it’s a fear of your intangible power
and the dialogues they have yet to have with themselves.
Keep your head high when they tell you that they are not yet strong enough
but maybe someday
because they sure would love to be.
Keep your feet firmly planted and your power sources near at hand and never shrink yourself to fit their molds.
There will be people big enough
bigger even
who will feed you and fuel you.
At least one.
I am after all
an optimist.