‘Ode to Justus Von Liebig’ by Jalen Louis Tarver

This piece was part of the Ánimo Voices Competition, which invited students to write about innovators, upstanders, visionaries, or rebels that have made a difference in their local or broader communities. The competition was an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing and art.

Ode to Justus Von Liebig

by Jalen Louis Tarver, 10th grade, Ánimo South Los Angeles Charter High School

I imitate your every move,
From your hairstyle,
To your shoe selection.
Why not stay a while.

Look at yourself for a second,
a minute,
an hour.
That outfit on you looks splendid.

You left late at night,
Looking dapper as hell.

Didn’t come back till early morn’,
When I hear the morning bell.

An accident occurred.
I was scratched, cracked, broken.
You put me back together,
And I was re-awoken.

I didn’t reflect the same,
But that didn’t bother you.
You looked at me as I looked at you.
I’m just glad that you stayed true.

Justus Von Lieberg is the inventor of the mirror.