"B" (If I Should Have a Daughter)

“‘B’ (If I Should Have a Daughter)” is a poem by American poet Sarah Kay. The poem was originally written in 2007 and was published in her 2011 book titled B. B was Kay’s first published book among her four collected works. Kay wrote the poem in free verse, and it falls under the genre of spoken-word poetry, which has roots in oral tradition and is intended for performance. In 2011, Kay performed “‘B’ (If I Should Have a Daughter)” at a TED Conference. The poem is written from a mother’s perspective and talks about how she would treat a hypothetical daughter she might have, listing advice she would give her, such as how to deal with heartbreak and how to remain vulnerable in a tough world. It explores themes including overcoming adversity, providing support, and the recurring patterns of life that one must inevitably face.

Poet Biography

Sarah Kay is an American poet from New York City. She was born on June 19, 1988. Her four books of poetry include B (2011), No Matter the Wreckage (2014), The Type (2016), and All Our Wild Wonder (2018).