I think in Somali, I cuss in Somali, when I'm afraid I reach for somali and this language is very rich, very filling. It's an unflinching language; the crudest most terrible things sound perfectly normal in Somali.

My favourite people, biggest inspirations and closest friends are all women. Not a coincidence.

Light attracts light. But sometimes your light attracts moths and your warmth attracts parasites. Protect your space and energy

I tore up and ate my own passport in an airport hotel once. I'm bloated with language I can’t afford to forget.

Make peace with your body, it's not manmade, there are no flaws, there are no mistakes.

You are terrifying, and strange, and beautiful. Something not everyone knows how to love.

Warsan means "good news" and Shire means "to gather in one place". My parents named me after my father's mother, my grandmother. Growing up, I absolutely wanted a name that was easier to pronounce, more common, prettier. But then I grew up and understood the power of a name, the beauty that comes in understanding how your name has affected who you are.