Quote

To my daughter I will say, ‘when the men come, set yourself on fire.’

Warsan Shire

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Warsan Shire
Age: 36
Born: 1988
Born: January 1
Poet
Writer
Republic of Kenya
Daughter
Fire
Come
Men

More quotes by Warsan Shire

Image
My favourite people, biggest inspirations and closest friends are all women. Not a coincidence.
Warsan Shire
Image
How far have you walked for men who've never held your feet in their laps?
Warsan Shire
Image
I want to love, but my hair smells of war and running and running.
Warsan Shire
Image
Every mouth you’ve ever kissed was just practice. All the bodies you’ve ever undressed and ploughed in to were preparing you for me. I don’t mind tasting them in the memory of your mouth. Was it a long journey? Did it take you long to find me? You’re here now, welcome home.
Warsan Shire
Image
I tore up and ate my own passport in an airport hotel once. I'm bloated with language I can’t afford to forget.
Warsan Shire
Image
There is no intimacy like that between two women who have chosen to be sisters.
Warsan Shire
Image
I am a lover without a lover. I am lovely and lonely and I belong deeply to myself.
Warsan Shire
Image
You are terrifying, and strange, and beautiful. Something not everyone knows how to love.
Warsan Shire
Image
My heart is a flower blossoming out of my mouth.
Warsan Shire
Image
Sad people have the gift of time, while the world dizzies everyone else they remain stagnant, their bodies refusing to follow pace with the universe. With these kind of people everything aches for too long, everything moves without rush, wounds are always wet.
Warsan Shire
Image
I know a few things to be true. I do not know where I am going, where I have come from is disappearing, I am unwelcome and my beauty is not beauty here. My body is burning with the shame of not belonging, my body is longing.
Warsan Shire
Image
We took such care of tomorrow, but died on the way there.
Warsan Shire
Image
And you tried to change, didn't you? Closed your mouth more. Tried to be softer, prettier, less volatile, less awake... You can't make homes out of human beings. Someone should have already told you that. And if he wants to leave, then let him leave. You are terrifying, and strange, and beautiful. Something not everyone knows how to love.
Warsan Shire
Image
Make love like you have no secrets like you've never been left never been hurt like the world don't owe you a single wretched thing.
Warsan Shire
Image
You can't make homes out of human beings.
Warsan Shire
Image
My alone feels so good, I'll only have you if you're sweeter than my solitude.
Warsan Shire
Image
Light attracts light. But sometimes your light attracts moths and your warmth attracts parasites. Protect your space and energy
Warsan Shire
Image
At the end of the day, it isn’t where I came from. Maybe home is somewhere I’m going and never have been before.
Warsan Shire
Image
It's not my responsibility to be beautiful. I'm not alive for that purpose. My existence is not about how desirable you find me.
Warsan Shire
Image
When I love, I love: wholly, thoroughly, completely, drowning in everything. Every glance can be a conversation, eyes just playing and saying what needs to be said. Silence is loud, and the air becomes heavy. I want you. I want all of you.
Warsan Shire