Here in Bridgeport Big Read programs are truly underway. At the Mercy Learning Center, where staff provides basic literacy and life skills to low-income women in the greater Bridgeport area women used To Kill a Mockingbird as a way of expressing themselves through poetry.
Under the guidance of poet therapist Dianna Miller three poetry sessions took place at the center on April 11. After reading a short passage from the book Dianna asked participants to think about the theme expressed - courage. Dianna entitled the poem "It's When You Know You're Licked Before You Begin But You Begin Anyway..After To Kill A Mockingbird" and encouraged each woman to think of two lines of poetry on their own. When they were done each person read their two lines with Dianna compiling the sentences into a wonderful poem. It was a very moving experience, as each woman read her lines aloud and encompassed something personal from her life. It was amazing how the words naturally flowed together. The next two sessions had the women writing individual poetry in addition to the collaborative effort.
In Dianna’s words “Thank you for including me in the grant. Witnessing the participants' creation of their own short poems (and sometimes longer poems) is an honor for me as a poetry therapist and writer. Working at the Mercy Learning Center was a wonderful experience! “
Collaborative Poem from Session 1
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