Morning Song

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou (1978)

This iconic poem from Maya Angelou’s And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems has a confrontational tone that sets the speaker against the pain inflicted by the “you,” as in “You may trod me in the very dirt” (Line 3). In spite of their “bitter, twisted lies” (Line 2), the speaker rises “like dust” (Line 4). Similarly, “Morning Song” envisions the tiny journalist spying on her enemies with help from “puffs of dust” that “find her first” (Line 29). Despite her challenging circumstances, “she has a better idea” (Line 39). In both poems, real history is interwoven, including slavery and racism in America for Angelou and the Israel occupation of the West Bank for Nye.

“First Generation Immigrant” by Rupi Kaur (2014)

This short poem from Rupi Kaur’s self-published collection Milk and Honey shows the challenges of losing a home “at the risk of / never finding home again” (Lines 2-3). In “Morning Song,” Nye confronts the conditions of Ayyad’s home—her father’s homeland—which has been impacted by war and death. Kaur addresses being caught between two countries as an immigrant. Nye speaks to Ayyad being caught between two neighboring countries constantly at war and an attempt at shedding a global light on the need for peace.

“Gratitude List” by Naomi Shihab Nye (2019)

From the same poetry collection as “Morning Song,” “Gratitude List” takes the negative and turns it into a positive reflection: “Thank you for insulting me / You helped me see how much I was worth” (Lines 1-2). Ayyad is favorably known in the Palestinian world for her activism, but activism comes with a price—dissenters from the other side of the aisle. In “Gratitude List,” the speaker says, “It gives you time to discover yourself” (Line 9). Ayyad is unable to truly experience the carefree aspects of childhood while under occupation and is forced to view herself as an adult before many of her peers across the globe have to do so.

“My Wisdom” by Naomi Shihab Nye (2019)

“My Wisdom,” also a part of The Tiny Journalist collection, is full of probing questions about power that a journalist might ask: “Where does the power go?” (Line 13) The poem has lines full of optimism, including “Won’t give up / our hopes / for anything!” (Line 35-37), and lines about a girl’s place in the home—themes which resonate with the tribute to Ayyad’s and the next generation’s activism in “Morning Song.” This poem also starts out with couplets, as does “Morning Song,” but deviates from that form in the rest of the poem.