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Writer's pictureThe Magnolia Literacy Project

A Young Poet’s Voice: Jada Stewart

Jackson resident, Jada Stewart, 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 Jada's poem, “Sweet, Forgiving, and Shiny Like a Diamond”, she honors her mother.


“Sweet, Forgiving, and Shiny Like a Diamond”


Sitting in the park,

I see a colorful butterfly.

It reminds me of my Mom

Because she is beautiful.


The butterfly has vibrant, pretty colors

And a red spot that stands out

From all the other colors,

And that's why I love it

Because my Mom stands out

With her beauty.


My two most favorite things about the butterfly

Are its beautiful colors and how neat it looks.

The butterfly makes me feel lucky

To be able to enjoy its beauty.


My Mom has this unique personality

That makes me smile every day.

I love to wake up and see her

Up and ready every day!

I don't know what I'd do without her.


My favorite thing about her

Is how she is always so sweet

And forgiving of others.

My Mom wouldn't hurt a fly

Unless it involved her kids.

She makes me feel safe and loved!


The butterfly and my Mom are alike

Because they both shine bright like diamonds.



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