Jackson resident, MiAngel Gurule’, a sixth 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 MiAngel's poem, "Precious: One of a Kind", she honors her mother.
"Precious: One of a Kind"
Sitting at the park
I see a sunflower.
It reminds me of my mom, PRECIOUS,
She is bright and strong.
The sunflower has
BEAUTIFUL, vibrant colors that make my
Heart full and cause all my worries to go away.
My favorite thing about it is
Its strong stem.
It makes me feel PROTECTED and SAFE.
The petals of the sunflower make me feel joyful.
My mom has a heart made of gold
And a smile that can bring light
To anyone's dark world.
My favorite thing about her is
The way she chooses to love and care for me. My mom makes me feel happy, joyful and gleeful.
The sunflower and my Mom are alike
Because they are both bright
And one of a kind.