I am from clotheslines and tomato vines,
from Bisquick and Coca-cola.
I am from the front porch swing and pump organ thing.
I am from the freezers full of harvest,
the cornstalks planted in manure.
I am from Christmas punch and
Christian chins
From Kirk and Wanda, Berniece and Buster.
I am from stubbornness and laughter,
From Jesus loves me and you better
not wear those jeans to church.
I am from an ex-Baptist and a Bootlegger,
From a year in the Pen and Precious, Lord Take My Hand
I am from Rocky Ridge and the Great Flood of 1937
and from Cherry Almond Pie and Dumplings.
From the big shoulders and tiny little waist,
the clickety-clack of 6-inch heels and the
prayers of a barren woman
promising to give her child
to the LORD.
I am from the filing cabinets
full of too many memories,
bursting with joy and lament
too much for one heart
to hold.
George Ella Lyon originally wrote a poem by the same name and later joined with Julie Landsman to create the “I Am From” Project using Ms. Lyon’s poem with prompts so others could write their own. This is my version. For more information: http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html
If you would like to write your own, here is the template:
https://www.wsuu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/I_Am_From_Poem(2).pdf
(Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock)