Two summers ago (2006) I wrote this poem as an assignment for one of my masters' courses. The point of the assignment was to reflect on yourself, family, etc. and share a piece of who you are/where you've come from, through poetry. I found this as I was sorting through old files on my old computer and thought I'd post it to at least have here if I should ever want to look back on it.
June 15, 2006
Where I’m From
I am from the dining room table,
where mugs sit that emit the aroma of fresh brewed coffee.
I am from the tall trees scattered in the distance,
which swallow the mailbox from my front door’s view.
I am from the raccoons scampering nearby,
the neighbor’s barking dogs, the chirping birds, and fireflies.
I am from Arizona where the hot sun shines.
I am from Milli and Leroy,
the supporting, loving, outgoing, and humorous,
who love to tease.
From where witch hazel can cure any ailment,
and a timely joke always evokes joyful sounds of laughter.
I am from delicious food and a gourmet cook,
who makes chocolate cake and a five-course meal appear,
after the fridge has been surveyed,
and we’ve reported that there’s nothing to eat.
I am from a joyful year,
where Nathan’s arrival brought us all happy tears.
From Friday night family dinners where we linger at the table
to dote on the little one and laugh together,
long after our plates have been cleared.
I am from the house that never sleeps.
From where my grandmother’s Bohemian words are thrown into the mix,
and my grandfather’s dusty black and white war pictures
remain crisp and colorfully vivid in his mind.
I am from a long, hard to pronounce, strangely spelled last name.
My heroes are not well known, rather they are the ones in my life who have a great Christian faith and live by a strong moral code,
who I feel so blessed to know.
The teacher in me is dying to assign you the same task! What would your "Where I'm From" Poem say?
