Where I'm From
Template This template has been used in writing assignments at the Campbell Folk School in North Carolina, Lisa Davis' Colorado Class, and Mrs. Cortez's 2012-13 IEW Class.
1• I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
2• I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
3• I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
4• I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
5• I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).
6• From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
7• I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
8• I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
9• From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
10• I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
The beautiful poem by George Ella Lyons called "Where I'm From." inspired this exercise
by George Ella Lyons
1• I am from clothespins,
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
2• I am from the dirt under the black porch.
(Black, glistening
it tasted like beets.)
3• I am from the forsythia bush,
the Dutch elm
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
4• I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,
from Imogene and Alafair.
5• I'm from the know-it-alls
and the pass-it-ons,
from perk up and pipe down.
6• I'm from He restoreth my soul
with a cottonball lamb
and ten verses I can say myself. 7• I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,
fried corn and strong coffee.
8• From the finger my grandfather lost
to the auger
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
Under my bed was a dress box
spilling old pictures,
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
9• I am from those moments-
snapped before I budded-
leaf-fall from the family tree. |
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Anna (9 years old)
Where I'm From
I am from the little log cabin across the pasture from Jesus' house; from multi-colored elastic pony-tail holders, from Polly Pockets, tea parties, Nancy Drew and Scrabble.
I am from the cozy and crowded, snug and comfortable, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg. I am from aspen and pine trees, mountain and prairie. From bad singing on birthdays and twenty-zillion pies at Thanksgiving.
I am from Nina and Grandmom, from Davises and Chenoweths -- choir singers, movie quoters and hula-hoopers from way back. From "Do unto others" and "Offer it up." I am from my Roman Catholic Faith, undiluted, unchanged, full of life and love and bounded by the rules and the rosary and the Mass and from flowers and pictures pinned around statues of the saints.
I'm from the the rolling plains and fertile valleys in the shadow of the mighty Colorado Rockies; from Ireland, and England, and Wales, and Germany.
I'm from quesadillas and bread sticks and potato soup. From Colcanon on St. Patrick's and Bouillabaisse on New Year's and chai in the morning if I'm lucky.
I am from my four big brothers' snowstorm "white-outs;" my three big sisters' music and baking; my little brothers' in trouble for bouncing on the couch. I'm from sitting on the sidelines giggling at all of them.
I'm from a billion photos on the hard-drive and a dozen tacked over the desk nearby; from a ten-sibling pyramid, and mountain top hikes, and board game bonanzas in a log cabin in the mountains.
I am from love and hugs and sibling squabbles; from a Mommy just waiting to hear what I'll say next and a Daddy who loves and "whoops up" unconditionally. I am from memories and love to last me a lifetime.
And then some.
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Where I'm From
1• I am from wooden spoons and a dinner bell, from my Peugeot racer and pom-pommed white roller skates.
2• I am from rolling hills and a big back yard stretching acres and acres and acres; from the aroma of freshly baked bread, my Mother's Shalimar, and her beautiful laughter.
3• I am from the Japanese Red Maple and the Mimosa tree filled with fragrant flowering blooms, our vegetable garden teeming with tomatoes and green peppers and green beans.
4• I am from praying together and family meetings, from the family in Cincy and the Old Farm.
5• I am from reading, laughter, and dancing; listening in awe to thunderstorms, watching snowfalls, raking leaves, walking barefoot in the summer.
6• From I love you, God loves you, and Yaté Meluyum.
7• I am from the Holy Roman Catholic Church and Methodist Sunday School; from finding truth and miracles. I am from philia and agape.
8• I'm from the state of virtue, liberty, and independence, and a kaleidoscope of nationalities; from my Mary's pasta and spaghetti gravy, Mom's eye roast; from halupkis and Mamaw's southern fried chicken
9• From my father's speed on the football field to my mother's grace on the dance floor, the harmonizing voices on the Wolf side, and the cob pipe of my Indian grandmother; from the daily reminders of God's blessings.
10• I am from shoeboxes of family photographs filled with with warm recollections of people, places, and pets; the smiling familiar faces tickle my memory and I remember my family loves me . . . and God loves me.
