My Mother is a Gladiolus, My Father is a Magnolia

by MORGAN JENSEN | Sarah Stecher Prize, student poetry contest

My mother is a gladiolus.
Much like the bright sanguine hues, she is strong and bold.
My mother has taught me bountiful ways to exhibit strength.
Holding on to her sword and cutting away dead leaves,
She has ended a cycle by planting new seeds.
Producing the tools and the shelter I need
to defend against rocks, bugs, and weeds.
Quietly exuding mettle by fortifying others,
I follow the stone path she laid for my feet.
My father is a magnolia.
Much like the lofty branches, he cultivates a place to call home.
My father has taught me how to welcome others with open arms.
Caring for stretching stems and supporting growing trees,
He has ended a cycle by nurturing new seeds.
Laying a foundation for a warm flower bed,
A blanket of sunlight, a place to rest my head.
He perseveres when faced with poisoned soil,
I follow the worn path he has built for me.
No matter how the wind makes me toil,
The garden is where I’ll be.
I’ll remember
where my
roots
and
thorns
harbor
my
growing flowers.
Where the dirt
and
the
sun
embrace my
vibrant
leaves.

Ω

Morgan Jenson is a coffee mug-hoarding artist pursuing an AA in art. When she isn’t collecting shiny rocks, she designs emotion-evoking characters and writes thought-provoking stories. Find more of her work at https://mojayarts.wixsite.com/portfolio.

Baylee Haggard says: “This piece represents the whirlwind feeling of growing up, realizing you’re able to be observed by others and all the thoughts and feelings that come along with it. With vibrant colors and the subject ‘seeing stars,’ the painting evokes a feeling of living in the clouds.”