Acevedo’s words wake my inner girl,
that angry, confined, injured girl
who broke free of youth, rose up,
and found that her bruised layers
still contained satin petals
ready to bloom in a bit of sun
in every color of joy and love.
Copyright 2018 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: This poem flowed from my admiration for a three-minute PBS News Segment: This poet wants brown girls to know they’re worthy of being the hero (Poet: Elizabeth Acevedo) and the New York Times article: A Young Poet’s Inspiration (Poet: Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate). To all the young girls over the world finding their voices, your calls are heard by those of us whose inner girls still aspire, still remember. We women hear, admire and relate.
Thanks to Ramona who led me to Acevedo’s piece with her lovely poem, Overheard from the Kitchen Table.
Happy Poetry Friday and thanks to Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at the Poem Farm for hosting! I announced yesterday that I participated in Tabatha’s Mistake Anthology.
69 thoughts on “Young Girls Rise”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
This is beautiful.. it speaks to what my blog is about💕
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Love your blog, and I’m with you.
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Thank you I appreciate the support 💕
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Amazing described 👍😍
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Thank you!
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Just love this post Brenda and just needed sharing in full here’s the post link Ian https://acefriendsnews.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/young-girls-rise-friendly-fairy-tales/
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Writing her name down to find out more. Such strong images.
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The video is terrific and not long. You won’t be sorry. 🙂
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her bruised layers
still contained satin petals
Such a revelation! Beautiful, Brenda.
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Thanks, Michelle. XOXO
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Yes! Yes! Yes! We must remember our inner selves. Must lift each other up. I adore how this grew from a brief PBS segment. Writing blooms in any soil when the writer is willing. xx
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The rockier the better. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Amy.
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Amazing, Brenda! I adore where your mind travels! ❤
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Thanks, Resa! Can’t wait to read your book. Is it only an ebook?
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Here’s to all girls finding strength and satin!
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Here, here!
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What a wonderful call for girls to raise their voices and be heard! YES!
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Yes!
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Girl power…YES!!
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Woo-hoo!
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Your poem is beyond words, simply amazing and inspirational!!
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Thanks, Mihran. 🙂
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Your poem is full of truth and beauty. It spoke to the young girl I was and the middle-aged I am and all those layers I’m still making my through.
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I’m glad it spoke to you and made you feel your beautiful layers, through and through.
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“rose up” That line and image, along with your last two lines, really stuck with me. Just lovely and uplifting!
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Thanks, Kiesha. 🙂 They are the most positive parts.
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Fascinating links, Brenda, to go with your powerful poem. I have been reading (online) interviews with Misty Copeland, another amazing woman.
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So much talent. Too bad history generally forgets us.
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Heartwarming, Brenda and I love the support you gave here: “found that her bruised layers
still contained satin petals”. Some have to work so hard.
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The world isn’t an easy place for so many. Yet, we are a resilient species with so much to offer.
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Who found satin petals….beneath the bruises. Stunning and truer than true.
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Thanks, Linda. We women deal with too many bruises.
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Brenda, Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerful speaker and writer who stands tall for women of color around the world. I picked up her book Poet X at NCTE17 but haven’t had a chance to read it. Now is the time. I admire the work you did with your poem, uncovering the layers of the inner girl to find the hope to bloom in the sun with brilliant colors. That is the work poets do!
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Yes! So easy to bloom when words are your sunshine.
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Beautiful poem. I especially love
found that her bruised layers
still contained satin petals
ready to bloom
Very empowering!
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I love how you left a comment-poem for me. Thanks for that last line.
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Oh, wow, isn’t Acevedo’s poetry amazing? Thanks for linking to the PBS thing – and for sharing your own rising up with satin petals…
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Yes, she was far more amazing than my little anthem, yet, I was moved to add my voice. Toward unity. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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Beautiful, transforming poem Brenda! These lines are rich and moving,
“rose up,
and found that her bruised layers
still contained satin petals”
Congrats in having Poems in “Imperfect” I look forward to reading them! I’ll have to check out the articles you’ve posted. And I love the yellow rose, thanks!
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Thanks, Michelle. 🙂 I’ll try to stop by soon.
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Such an uplifting, empowering poem! All females, regardless of age, need this affirmation. Thank you!
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We sure do. 🙂
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Thank goodness for blossoming after bruises, for sunlight after struggle!
I’m glad you liked “IMPERFECT poet” as a title 🙂
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It’s imperfectly perfect. 🙂
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Wonderful words. The rose is a perfect metaphor.
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It’s been done, but I though maybe this was a new take. 🙂 And we love our flowers, don’t we?
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BETWEEN THE POEM AND THE ROSE…EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL! 🙂
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Thanks, Jonathan. I hope your health is rising, too.
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Acgtually being more civil at home–aa real improvement!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
CLAP-CLAP-CLAP-CLAP…..!
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Taking a bow…. 😉
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VERY WELL-DESERVED!
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LOL Thank you.
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oh, that is so beautiful and i love your motivation for this –
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Thanks, Beth. She is an amazing writer.
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Yes!
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Yay!
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Lovely.
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Thanks, Gigi!
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Lovely poem!
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Thank you!
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A poem that speaks to the heart. Well done, Brenda!
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Thanks, Peter. 🙂
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Wonderful words. It carries the message “There’s hope for everyone!”
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I was hoping it would carry that message. So many young girls feel trapped.
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Beautiful. I love this.
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Thanks, Holly. 🙂
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You’re welcome 😊
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