Last semester I enrolled in a writing workshop focused on short forms. The instructor began the first session with one of my favorite pieces – “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid (linked if you’ve never read it). We were instructed to use any of the three mentor texts to write our own piece, and this was mine as inspired by Kincaid.
MIJA, by Britt Decker
Soak yourself in la sabiduría of las abuelas; revel in the arts; this is how you speak up; this is how you rest the way your ancestors could not; be sure to treat all people with dignity; ‘no hay mal que por bien no venga’; this is how you honor your elders; show me what you are learning; be the chingona you are destined to become; when arriving home with arms full of groceries, be sure to whisk up the children and dance to the music turned up loudly; show me my outdated ways with grace; sit in your sadness; let others sit with you in your sadness; have no patience with injustice; love with abandon; be the chingona you are destined to become; this is how you agitate, because there might not be anybody else leading the fight; this is how you cultivate sisterhood; this is how you welcome those who are familia – con amor; this is how you welcome those who are friends – with laughter and warmth; this is how you welcome your enemies – with open ears and a kind heart; be the chingona you are destined to become; this is how you ask questions; make sure you listen twice as much as you speak; what if it is all too much?; after all this, you are right to consider the burden, but know that you are not alone.
britt escribe 
Britt,
First, I love, love, love “Girl.” You have done a stellar job here. I especially love the admonition to listen. I’ve been thinking about that a lot this month. Reading is listening. I like thinking about listening as I read blog posts and comment.
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If only we all would listen twice as much as we speak. what wonderful words of wisdom you impart.
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This is a lesson in how to masterfully use a mentor text to deepen your own writing. Thank you for sharing!
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What a great share! I was not familiar with this piece. It’s wonderful and you did a terrific job replicating the structure and creating a post filled with excellent words to live by. Thank you!
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This is beautiful! It was hard to pick my favorite lines. Two that stood out to me were: “when arriving home with arms full of groceries, be sure to whisk up the children and dance to the music turned up loudly” and “this is how you welcome those who are familia – con amor; this is how you welcome those who are friends – with laughter and warmth; this is how you welcome your enemies – with open ears and a kind heart”.
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