Carrie Mixon - Commencement Poet

AiR Carrie Mixon was invited by the American Language Center of Tetouan to participate in the commencement ceremony of its ACCESS* students on Sunday 15-February as a guest poet.

It was standing room only in the auditorium of Tetouan’s Dar Taqafa (Culture House) of the Ministry of Culture Sunday night. Guests were treated to musical numbers from two different local bands, traditional songs from the women students choir, a comedy sketch, film montage and words from a few honored guests. All in honor of the the graduates of Tetouan’s ALC ACCESS program. Special greetings and encouragement were also offered in English and Moroccan Arabic by Rebecca Smoak, US Regional English Language Officer for Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

ALC director Steeve Nicks had asked Artist in Residence Carrie Mixon to write and present a poem in honor of the students’ accomplishment of two years of study in this special English language program. You can read that poem below. After introducing herself as a fellow learner and an artist, Carrie shared that she had written this poem with these students in mind.

Hope is a Steady Thing

by Carrie Mixon

High, high the mountains stand,
their peaks established in impossibility;
And someone once asked me to climb them.

Breathe deep, small heart,
beat, beat, small heart;
Now the feet of the mountains
surround you.
Oh, fear is a rushing thing,
but small victories come slow
with little leaps and plodding feet.

Steep, steep the moving slopes,
each rock a quick shifting uncertainty;
And someone asked me to follow him.

Breathe deep, my heart,
beat, beat, my heart;
The arms of a friend wrap
around you.
Yes, hope is a steady thing,
that catches fear around the throat,
and finds the crevices to hold.

Long, long the glorious climb,
with others near and fear behind;
For someone promised to go with me.

Breathe deep, brave heart,
beat, beat, brave heart;
Despair now slinks off
abandoned.
For joy is a growing thing,
and through the rough-hewn peaks
it sings.

See more of Carrie Mixon’s poetry on her website – http://www.carriemixon.portfoliobox.me/home

*The English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) provides a foundation of English language skills to talented 13-20 year-olds from economically disadvantaged sectors through after-school classes and intensive sessions. Access gives participants English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects. Participants also gain the ability to compete for and participate in future exchanges and study in the United States. Since its inception in 2004, approximately 95,000 students in more than 85 countries have participated in the Access Program.

Explanation of the ACCESS program as well as information about eligibility and application can be found here