My friend, Mignonne

Michele Lee

Nov 18

Do you ever have so much to say that you end up saying nothing, because you aren't sure where to begin and the task feels too daunting? Yeah? Me too.

I shall just dive in and hit the high notes, maybe a few lows. In April of 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I submitted a few poems for consideration to Arizona State University's Piper Center for Creative Writing to (hopefully) have my work included in their yearly poetry anthology. A few months later, I was informed that my poem, "Buried Roots," was selected for inclusion. I was excited about the news and the opportunity to participate in an online launch party (we could not meet in person due to Covid restrictions). I was honored and enriched by the experience. I have never shared this poem on my blog, and I will. Soon. Before I share the poem in its entirety, I would like to share a few lines that I wrote for and about my friend Mignonne and the healing impact they had on her. A surprising and beautiful impact and the most cherished part of this poetic experience.

I will share the ASU prompt that my poem addresses, the lines written about my friend, then I will provide a brief backstory.

ASU Prompt #4 - The Place I'm From:

"Home is a complicated subject for many people, whether they're writers or not. Referencing Gil Scott-Heron's "Home is where the hatred is" vs. Elvis Presley's "Home is where the heart is", today's prompt asks you to reflect on the place you consider home. Write a poem that answers one of these two questions: how do you feel about the place where you grew up? Or, how does the place you grew up feel about you?"

Featured lines from "Buried Roots":

............................
These things and more I remember about the house on the corner,
next to a school, named after a poet, but not all things I miss

I don't miss swimming in the neighbor's pool without another
friend who was not allowed in because she had darker skin

I don't miss the childish part of me that chose to dive in
instead of standing up to the man who chose hurtful prejudice
............................

Brief backstory:

Between Mignonne's home and mine there was a "special" house - a house with a pool. Another little girl lived there. We were friends, the three of us. We played in the playground across the street. We played in a nearby field that had a community treehouse (built by us kids). We played tag and hide-in-seek in the streets. But what we didn't do together, the three of us, was swim in the other girl's pool. I (alone) was welcome anytime, sure, but I began to notice that when Mignonne and I showed up together, at this girl's door, the welcome was less so. Mignonne and I carried on and would find other ways to entertain ourselves during the hot summer months, like listening to Jackson Five albums in her bedroom or disco songs, like Won't You Take Me to Funky Town, in mine.

I wanted to play with my friend Mignonne, and I also really wanted to swim. Following my hunch that something was "off" when Mignonne and I showed up together, I privately asked the other the little girl why she turned us away when Mignonne was with me. She told me her dad wasn't comfortable with black people. I did not know how to respond. I still don't. I was confused and conflicted by this situation. I remember thinking, how could anyone be uncomfortable with a child, especially one as sweet as Mignonne.

Life carried on. I moved out of that neighborhood after my parents' divorce. Mignonne lost her mom to cancer just after high school. She and I shared an apartment for a short time following her mom's passing. It was a very difficult time for Mignonne. I attended the wedding of my other friend, years ago, and that is the last time I saw her or her parents.

I shared my poem with Mignonne a few months after it was published. What followed was an unlocking of sad memories and missing pieces for Mignonne, meaningful dialogue between her and I, and ultimately, healing. This is what I am most proud of regarding the publication of my poem.

My friend Mignonne is an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. I am so proud of her and all that she has accomplished, and I am grateful to her for trusting me to share this story. Thank you for reading and for holding this post in an honoring and understanding light. 🙏🏻 Michele

"Don't use the phone. People are never ready to answer it. Use poetry."

― Jack Kerouac

If the music video does not load, click here for Jackson Fives, I'll Be There 🎶

Photo 1: Long-lasting studio Photo 2: Mignonne Note: Unfortunately, I do not have any childhood photos of Mignonne and me - the featured art photo I selected feels like her fiery energy and beauty.