THE WOMAN I’VE COME TO BE

I’m not the little girl you knew at 15, who was in love with you.

I traded in my Addidas sneakers and baggy jeans

for A-line skirts and high heel shoes.

But my attire isn’t the only thing that’s changed.

My outlook is different, so is my attitude, so is my name.

Before I was Toya B,

a confused tomboy who secretly wrote poetry.

Now I’m Brenda’s Child,

a confident Diva with a smooth spoken word style.

I had dreams, but back then,

loving you was more important to me than anything else.

I never really took the time to love myself.

I needed you to make me happy when I was Toya B.

Now I’m Brenda’s Child, I’m content with being me.

I guess part of me will always be,

that little girl you met in the projects at 15.

I still love music and dance;

I still have the same good friends.

Today my hair’s a little different.

So are my standards, so is my name.

And the way I feel about you has definitely changed.

I just hope that when you look at me,

you still don’t see

that confused tomboy named Toya B.

Instead, I hope you recognize and appreciate,

Me for me,

Brenda’s Child,

the confident woman I've come to be.