As part of my home school curriculum, I am doing a project called Words That Burn. It was launched by Amnesty International and is aimed at teaching young people about human rights, whilst encouraging them in their creative writing, mainly poetry. Learning at its best, in my view.
So, today I wanted to share a poem that we had to analyse in my project. It’s a really powerful and beautiful piece by spoken word artist Dean Atta, on the topic of identity. After that, we had to write our own poem, about our identity.
However, before we go into all of that exciting stuff, I have an important announcement to make! 🙂 You can now go vote for the nominees in Megan’s Part 1 of the Best Of 2017 Blogging Awards! I am literally jumping up and down right now because I WAS NOMINATED IN TWO CATEGORIES! Wow, I never expected that. Anyway, go vote! And good luck! *proceeds to dance around the room*
Okay, so coming back to the poem. I present, I Come From by Dean Atta.
I come from shepherd’s pie and Sunday roast
Jerk chicken and stuffed vine leaves
I come from travelling through my taste buds but loving where I live
I come from a home that some would call broken
I come from D.I.Y. that never got done
I come from waiting by the phone for him to call
I come from waving the white flag to loneliness
I come from the rainbow flag and the union jack
I come from a British passport and an ever-ready suitcase
I come from jet fuel and fresh coconut water
I come from crossing oceans to find myself
I come from deep issues and shallow solutions
I come from a limited vocabulary but an unrestricted imagination
I come from a decent education and a marvellous mother
I come from being given permission to dream but choosing to wake up instead
I come from wherever I lay my head
I come from unanswered questions and unread books
Unnoticed effort and undelivered apologies and thanks
I come from who I trust and who I have left
I come from last year and last year and I don’t notice how I’ve changed
I come from looking in the mirror and looking online to find myself
I come from stories, myths, legends and folk tales
I come from lullabies and pop songs, Hip Hop and poetry
I come from griots, grandmothers and her-story tellers
I come from published words and strangers’ smiles
I come from my own pen but I see people torn apart like paper
Each a story or poem that never made it into a book.
I just love love love some of the lines in this, they’re so poignant. “waving the white flag to loneliness” “crossing oceans to find myself” “being given permission to dream, but choosing to wake up instead” I could go on and on and on. Seriously.
Now comes the challenging part. I had to write a poem like his: an I come from….. poem. So I sat down and made a list of the things that have shaped my identity and then crafted them into this poem.
I Come From by Gracie Chick
I come from words springing from emptiness,
I come from the pages of a book,
I come from misty mornings in my mind and conversations long into the night,
I come from the flames of a candle and the glowing embers of a campfire
I come from struggles and determination and an overwhelming desire for true friendship.
I come from missing the sunrise and waiting all day for it to set.
I come from craving beauty in a world I want to change,
I come from tears and discontentment,
I come from dreaming big
I come from two amazing hearts that never lose faith.
I come from wanting more than black and white
I come from music that no one else hears and stories that no one else sees,
or writes.
I come from a river of ink and a land of where the honey is too sticky and sweet and the milk soured long ago.
Hope that made sense to you guys! Now, the big question is……
Where do you come from???
Please answer in the comments, debating is more than welcome!
And now, time for the second big announcement. Some of you might remember reading my discussion post on makeup a few weeks ago. If so, you’ll probably recall that I included a section detailing the thoughts of many different teens throughout the blogosphere. The result was amazing and everyone really got into the discussion element of it. So, I was thinking I’d make this a regular thing. If you’re interested in contributing your opinions to these future discussion posts, please drop me an email at graciechick29@gmail.com
Then, whenever I need your thoughts, I’ll send out an email (probably monthly) and you can reply with your contributions. This is aimed mainly at teens, but if you’re older or younger and would still like to participate, feel free. Also, if you sign up, you don’t have to participate very time. If you’re ever too busy or just don’t want to contribute that’s totally fine. Hoping to see lots of interest in this!
What did you think of Dean Atta’s Poem? What about mine? Complete this sentence: I come from…
Are you going to sign up to give your opinions in my future discussion posts?
I love your poem! I love both poems. They’re so warm and inspiring! ❤ I’d love to do one of my own, if you wouldn’t mind?? ❤
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Thank you so much! I loved his one too. Of course not, I’d love to read it. xxx
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Cool, sounds like a lot of fun! I will be looking forward to them!
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Thanks! Did you see my last announcement? If so, would you be interested in participating?
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Maybe, it sounds really fun!
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Just drop me an email at graciechick29@gmail.com or use my contact page on my blog. 😁❤ Remember, sign up if you’re interested and you can always decline if you’re too busy or change your mind!
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Sure! Thank you!
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Okay! Looking forward to hearing from you soon! Xxx
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Very interesting poem by Dean Attas . Your poem was very well thought out where do all these I come from _.come you certainly have an amazing brain to have come up with all these lines. Gracie you never cease to amaze me. Excellent xxxxx
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Wow… Your writing is so incredibly beautiful! 🙂
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Thank you so much! Do you write?
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Keep up the wonderful writings Gracie.
I come from missing thoughts and filling in the gaps,
I come close to life but remain far from living.
Have you heard of To Whom It May Concern by Adrian Mitchell?
If not you must read it.
P.S. There is a Christmas present on its way to you.
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Thanks, Tom! I like your mini poem too. I haven’t heard of that, will be looking it up.
P.S. Thank you. I am posting yours on Monday.
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Thank you, Gracie, I look forward to receiving it and I hope you enjoy mine.
Definitely look at the poem you will like it, tell me what you think of it.
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No worries, Tom! I think I received yours today, saving it for Christmas though! I sent yours today too.
Yep, I’ll look at it.
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Thanks, Gracie I can’t wait to receive it and I can’t wait to open it at Christmas, but I will.
Good, I think you will like that poem.
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No worries! I looked it up and thought the first line was particularly poignant “I was run over by the truth one day.”
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Yes, it has a lot of meaning, poems and songs like that one hit me quite emotionally.
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Mm, me too!
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I have received the present you sent me and I look forward to opening it on Christmas.
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Same here! Glad it arrived safely.
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I love the poems Gracie! They’re really pretty. Your writing style’s amazingly unique!
~Emily x
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Thank you, Emily! That means a lot to me. Xxx
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Gracie, I’d be interested to participate (second announcement). Sending an email soon xx
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Yay! Okay, looking forward to your email. Xxx
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So brilliantly put, my friend! Such is the power of your words, because I come from a chemistry I am yet to understand, one that can only be discovered with the help of ignition, and I so admire the feeling your words kindle in my heart. 😉
Stay awesome, Gracie!
P.S: Do you have any idea why your posts don’t seem to turn up in my reader?
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A million thank yous, Mukta! Your comment literally made my day. Those words were so beautiful they filled my mind with wonder, my heart with light and my mouth with sweetness. You stay awesome too, my friend.
P.S. No idea! Maybe try unfollowing me and then following again?
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Yeah, I’ll do that. ☺️
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Great!
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Oh, and I’d love to sign up for your discussions!
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Yay! Could you just send me an email?
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Alright, what should I say?
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Just to let me know you’re interested, then I can send you the details for the next topic.
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Woaah I love your poem so much!! It’s beautiful and it speaks so much!! I loved certain lines a lot. 😁😁💟💟
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Thank you so much, my friend!
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Woaah I love your poem so much !! It’s beautiful and it speaks a lot. I loved certain lines especially, where you speak about your mum n dad and your desires.😁😁💟💟
Also, I’d love to participate!! I’m sorry I can’t send an email because my emails to you are blocked. (I have NO idea why, but I’m not able to reply you at all. I’ve been trying for days. ) I should only try to create a new one.
Xxxx
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Aw, thanks!
Cool! Oh, that’s weird. We could probably do it via Skype???
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