Jackson resident, Destiny Giles, an eighth grade student at Blackburn Laboratory Middle School, attended The Magnolia Literacy Project’s (MLP) Spring 2022 Poetry Workshop Series for Young Mississippians. The theme was: “Comparing a Beautiful Creation of Nature to My Mother and/or Grandmother”. Students from various counties in Mississippi participated.
During the workshops, youth in elementary, middle, and high school were engaged in lessons on basic elements of poetry. They received a template to use as a springboard for developing their poems. Afterwards, each youth was asked to select a bright, multi-colored nature sticker from one of three bins – one with flowers, another with birds, and a third one with butterflies. The goals were to choose a sticker that reminded them of their mothers and/or grandmothers and write a poem(s), showing similarities between the sticker’s image(s) and the woman (or women) they wished to honor.
The Spring 2022 Poetry Workshop Series for Young Mississippians was sponsored by The MLP in partnership with the Lincoln County Public Library; Walmart (Flowood and Madison); Angel’s Attic Thrift Store in Brookhaven; Bank of Brookhaven; Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln County; and Blackburn Laboratory Middle School in Jackson.
In Destiny's poem, "Blue, True, Gold, and Bold", she honors her mother.
"Blue, True, Gold, and Bold"
Sitting at the park,
I see a pretty butterfly,
Blue and true.
It has beautiful wings,
Which seem to sing.
It makes me feel amazed.
The butterfly reminds me of my mom,
Better known as Ma’,
Beautiful inside and out,
Makes me want to shout.
She has a heart of gold.
Her love is strong and bold.
Sweet and kind,
She makes me feel safe and happy.
The butterfly and my mom are alike
Because they fly high,
Never give up,
And spread their wings to bring joy
Wherever they go!
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