By Oriana, TIWP Student “Be nobody’s darling, be an outcast.” — Alice Walker Being “nobody’s darling” means choosing truth over approval. From the time we’re young, we’re taught constantly, to be likable. To not aggravate the other person to attack. To smile politely and nod even when we disagree. To say we agree even though the […]
The Cost of Yes
By Avery Corey, TIWP Student There is a quiet expectation placed on a girl to be pleasing. Not powerful. Not loud. Pleasing. It begins early. Sit nicely. Don’t interrupt. Don’t be bossy. Smile more. Share. Be kind. The lessons are subtle, but they settle deep. A girl learns that approval comes when she is agreeable, […]
A Girl’s Voice
By Kristen H., TIWP Student I was taughtto shrink my voice,into something polite.To fold my anger like a noteand slide it under the doorinstead of speaking it out loud. I learned earlythat speaking up was “too much.”Don’t want too loudly.Don’t reach too far.Softness was strengthbut only when it stayed useful. They handed us a rulebookwithout […]
Boys Like That/Girls Like Me
By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student Boys liked P.E.,and so we were supposed to hate it.Boys religiously played video games,and so we were supposed to get destroyed by them.Boys messed around in class,and so we were supposed to sit still and listen.We learned. I feel sorry for boys like that,and in vain, I hope they feel […]
Being a Girl Without a Father
By May B, TIWP Student Being a girl without a father means seeing one present from your mom on your birthday. Being a girl without a father makes you wonder if you’ll grow up to be the woman that social media labels “a whore with daddy issues.” Being a girl without a father means never […]
The Children Will Listen
By GG, TIWP Student “Boys will be boys” and just like that all is forgiven. You can’t blame him, he’s just a boy, it’s only natural. If he teases you, he likes you, if he bullies you, he likes you, if he stalks you, it’s okay, it’s just because he likes you. It’s sad how […]
The Drowning Orchard
By Payton Posner, TIWP Student there is an orchardthat grows on the bottom of a lake.no one remembers how it sank,whether a storm dragged it underor it simply forgothow to stay above the surface. down there, the trees still stand,their branches lifting like tired handsthrough the greenish dim.fruit hangs heavy, swollen with water,too burdened to […]
The Ninth Ring
By Avery Corey, TIWP Student The Ninth Ring No one went into the clock tower anymore. The door stuck when it rained, and the steps smelled like rust and old birds. From the square, it looked exactly as it always had: a narrow spine of stone, a face with numbers rubbed pale by years of […]
On and Off
By Katelyn H., TIWP Student “I’ll light up my soul with a match and let it sing.” — Anne Sexton I’ll light up my soul with a match and watch it glow in the dark.I’ll see it fading in and out to the rhythm of my heartbeatand watch it become the bonfire of a campsite where […]
Lime Green
By Kristen H., TIWP Student Lime green feels prickly.It’s lighter than regular green in a candy-sweet, sickening way,like recovering from a sickness but you’re not all the way better yet,like your body forgot how to feel normal and picked something sour and airy instead. My head feels very light and I can feel my pulse […]
The Intuitive Voice 