Poet Safia Elhillo once wrote that “adolescence is the diaspora of the life cycle.” In this workshop, you will reflect on your teenage years while learning to write in two poetry forms: the pantoum and the ghazal. Award-winning poet María Fernanda will guide the session. We will use short writing exercises to respond to selections from the library’s literary archives, as well as poems and other materials. Sharing your writing is optional. After the workshop, you may choose to share your poem with today’s teenagers, who have written their own poems or may connect with your work. This workshop is inspired by pieces featured in the Black Artists of DC (BADC) exhibition BLACK(ER) on the 5th floor of MLK Library, which includes works from the original 2009 exhibition BLACK along with new additions. The workshop is open to everyone—both experienced poets and first-time writers. It is free to attend. Registration is encouraged but not required.