Where I'm From

Here's a free-write from the poem, "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon. When I say free-write, that means that I wrote freely - without worrying or editing or analyzing. This is just the way the words fell on to the page...try it yourself.


I am from beach sand and salt air,
From digging ‘til we reached water and
Mud pies in the back yard.
I am from painting rocks and riding bikes,
And learning to swim before I could walk.
I am from pungent odors from the Lobster Barn
And reeking low tide.
I am from itchy eyes and sneezing, the Memorial Day parade,
Summers at Spermacetti Cove, and sleigh-riding down the school hill.
I am from a single mom with three jobs,
A dad who never lived up to the expectation,
Fierce protection of siblings and
Diebold-Kuser wars.
I am from Marlboro Reds and Budweiser,
The step-daughter and the middle-child,
The fat girl and the best friend, and
The one who always got hurt in the end.
I am from road trips and heading out,
From secrets and hidden dreams,
From heart break and hope, and
Where do I go from here?
I am from listening and getting through it,
From “it’s not my shit” and “don’t cry out loud,”
From wading through flood waters and
Dancing in the hospital elevator.
I am from Jiffy-Pop and candle-lit dinners,
From concoctions and Chunky Beef over rice,
From making due and doing our best and
Never letting them get us down.
I am from who I once was to who I am now,
From transformation and evolution,
From a little bit crazy and a whole lot of fun,
From giving it all and wanting so much,
From wishing and hoping and dreaming and
Doing.