Jackson resident, Lorri Bernard, 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 Lorri's poem, “Colorful, Peaceful, and Pretty with a Big Personality”, she honors her mother.
"Colorful, Peaceful, and Pretty with a Big Personality"
Sitting at the park,
I see a butterfly.
It reminds me of my mom, Erica.
The butterfly has very pretty colors,
Black and brown.
My two most favorite things about it are
The warm colors and the way it makes me feel,
Peaceful.
My mom has very nice skin,
A beautiful face,
And a nice personality.
My two most favorite things about her are
Her beautiful face and her big personality.
My mom makes me feel at peace.
The butterfly and my mom are alike
Because they both are very pretty,
Have nice colors,
And make me feel at peace.