““A daughter comes home”A daughter comes home”

-Nikki Giovanni-Nikki Giovanni

By: Dionna Wilson, Jasmine By: Dionna Wilson, Jasmine Daniel & Braisia JohnsonDaniel & Braisia Johnson

• When daughters When daughters leave home they leave home they take a bit of the take a bit of the light most of the light most of the sunshine all the sunshine all the giggly giggly laughter…laughter…

Of Course Of Course we never say:we never say:

Don’t go…Don’t go…

• We say:We say:

You need your educationYou need your education

That man you love That man you love

He may not treat you He may not treat you

right.right.

• When daughters When daughters leave home it’s leave home it’s not like when not like when sons do…sons do…

• Sons go off to seek fame Sons go off to seek fame or a fortune or some sort or a fortune or some sort of medal we know they of medal we know they will not be backwill not be backwhole!whole!

• Maybe broken by warMaybe broken by war

• Maybe positive for Maybe positive for lovelove

• Maybe in bits and Maybe in bits and pieces…pieces…

• From all the vultures From all the vultures who pluck at their hopes who pluck at their hopes and dreams…and dreams…

• When sons leave When sons leave home they are home they are gonegoneBut daughters But daughters return to air the return to air the quilts quilts

of winter night of winter night sweats…sweats…

• To clean the cellars To clean the cellars of old peach of old peach preservespreserves

• To make mothersmothers buy red

dresses…dresses…

• To cajole fathers who To cajole fathers who suffered strokes on suffered strokes on the job…the job…

• To go to a baseball game To go to a baseball game

To rear their childrenTo rear their children

And bury the dog…And bury the dog…

• Daughters return to retire…Daughters return to retire…

• An ancient debt that says:An ancient debt that says:Those who have loved and Those who have loved and protected meprotected mewill now be loved and protected.will now be loved and protected.

• A daughter comes home to A daughter comes home to cook and wash and laugh cook and wash and laugh so hard to straighten out so hard to straighten out and straighten up…and straighten up…

• Heaven peeks down to applaud Heaven peeks down to applaud and the angels sing.and the angels sing.

THE END