By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - A Lee County 7th grader is one of the best young writers in the state.
12-year-old Kayla Staten won first place for her age group in the Young Georgia Authors writing contest.
Teachers selected student writings for the competition.
Kayla's winning entry was a poem she wrote about author Maya Angelou last school year.
Kayla left for Atlanta on Wednesday where she'll be recognized by the State Board of Education on Thursday.
Kayla Staten poem:
Maya Angelou
My, my Maya,
You sure have come a long way
From being the insecure little girl
You were back in the day.
A spirit so pretty
Like a cover on a magazine,
She's altogether
A fluent poetry writing machine.
Bright as a flame
Her wisdom shines.
Courage in her words
You're sure to find.
Millions of awards won-
Poetry is just her thing;
No iron fist could ever keep her quiet;
This caged bird was born to sing.
Cocoa colored skin-
She wished it was lighter.
Little did she know
It made her a fighter.
Boom! Her words explode
Off the page
Inspiring generations
No matter the age.
Though her childhood was hard
And tough at times,
She learned to cope with it
Throughout her poetry lines.
"Ain't I a woman?"
That's what she asked.
She refused to hide
Behind a mask.
When she writes,
The pen sings a song
And causes the paper
To sing along.
She stands for realism and strength;
She has paid her dues.
She reminds us all that
All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes.
She loved to write but also dance.
And she did it well
Whenever she got a chance.
Maya is loved by everyone-
By no one disliked,
And through her stories
She has no problem sharing her plight.
Since she's basically lived
On her own,
She's taught herself
Well and grown.
When you glance her way
You see a pretty poetic dame-
Author of the book
Gather Together in My Name.
From the back woods to Hollywood
This poet has come
To bring hope to many
And happiness to some.
By:
Kayla Staten
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Veronica Staten, mother (l) Kayla Staten, student (r)
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