Blogging, Childhood, Family, Food, Life, Writing

Where I’m From

Kari

I stumbled onto this poem many months ago:

Source

I should mention that I discovered this poem through this blogger. She wrote her own version of George Ella Lyons’ poem, which I also loved, so please visit her blog to read hers.

I remember Anna working on this project in high school, but I had no idea there were templates available online to help others create their own version. So I decided I wanted to make my own version, and I thought maybe you would as well. Even if you’re not a writer, I think this would be a fun project to work on.

Side note-I’d been sitting on my poem since January because I was nervous about sharing it on my blog. Even with a template, I’m not very good at poetry.

Ella, my grandmother, and her brother William in her high school senior portrait.

Kari- Where I’m From

I am from 8-track tapes and Elton John,

From Nanny’s junker and barbecue chicken.

I am from the dirt path circle around Nanny’s house

(from the dogs running around all day long)

I am from the flowering almond and towering walnut and willow trees, whose trunks we would clasp

as we made our way into the “big woods” in search of our next adventure.

I’m from Special K candy and Buckeyes.

From Ella Lucille and Sara Jayne.

I’m from the neighbors-might-hear!

and do unto others.

From may I be excused?

and clean your plate.

I’m from wedding receptions in church basements

And spaghetti and meatballs on Christmas Eve.

I’m from Crestline and “Big Lex,”

Black coffee and homemade beef and noodles.

From my great-grandmother raising siblings as a teenager

To my great grandfather catching on fire in his easy chair.

Memories stored in albums and boxes in basements,

Black paper and white cursive ink,

A map of our history, proof of where I came from.

Home is always with me.

I would encourage anyone to do this. I think it would be a fun ancestry project. I’d love for both of my parents to write one of these.

Here is a link to one of the many templates available.

And here is a wonderful NPR article where they created a Where I’m From poem out of thousands of poems.

If you decide to write your Where I’m From poem, please let me know so I can link to it here.

Where I’m From- River

Where I’m From- Matt

Where I’m From- Ren

Where I’m From- Ally

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60 thoughts on “Where I’m From”

  4. Kari, I LOVE where you’re from! And do you know what? A lot of what you shared resonances so much with where “I’m” from —

    – I am from 8-track tapes and Elton John.

    – I’m from Special K candy and Buckeyes.

    – From may I be excused? And clean your plate.

    – Memories stored in albums and boxes in basements.

    VERY cool post, my friend. It’s been such joy to get to know you more and more through your posts. Thank you! X

    And I may just share this on my blog in the future. I bookmarked the template!

    P.S. LOVE the portrait!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. I love your poem and I love the photo of your grandmother; I see so much of your face in hers. Your poem helps me see why we are friends; even though you are from the midwest and I am from the northwest, we are–in many ways–from the same place. (I still remember the night my father taught me that we were to ask “may I be excused” before leaving the dinner table. Which means there was a dinner table at which we ate every night.)

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I love that photograph as well. It was in Ella’s nursery when she was a baby because she is her namesake and my grandmother died while I was pregnant with her. Having that picture in there just felt healing at the time.

      I have a feeling we were brought together for a reason all those years ago. If you’re interested, I’d love for you to write one of these poems.

      Like

  12. This is so amazing, Kari! Your poem is so awesome and I love that you shared with us!!

    The line about your great-grandpa catching fire in his easy chair?!! So good. (I think? I hope that’s not tragic!!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for being so thoughtful! I was very nervous.

      Unfortunately, he fell asleep holding his pipe and burned to death. My great grandmother tried to put out the fire, but he suffered too much trauma to his frail body and died.

      Like

  15. OMG, this is fabulous! I loved reading your poem.

    I bookmarked the template. I quickly looked it over and realize it’s harder than it seems! I will give it a try though.

    I can see so much of you and Ella in your grandmother.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Okay, I’m glad you’re having difficulty as well! I’m laughing so hard right now because I assumed it was just ME!

      I can see it as well. I love that because Ella shares her name and my grandmother passed away while I was pregnant with her. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I love so much about this, from the photo to your poem. I love that you included reference to music, food, and nature. And I love hearing your grandmother’s first and middle names. I’m really glad you shared this with us! XO

    P.S. My son and his wife had their first baby on Sunday night. Faye Eloise, 8 lbs 4 oz. We are in love!

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I love this, Kari! I really can see your grandma in you – especially around the eyes. What a treasure that photo is. I have so few of my own grandmothers.
    I love how much our childhood shapes us, and I love reading about yours. 8 tracks! Buckeyes! So fun.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. This is a great poem and a beautiful project. I’m so glad you shared yours with us. The photo of your grandma is beautiful. There is a striking resemblance between you and your grandma . . . like WOW. I’m laughing thinking of kids nowadays including their little brothers in their grad portrait. “Neighbors might hear!” – so relatable.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, friend! As I get older, I see more of my face in hers. I love that. 

      My dear friend Rebecca’s oldest daughter also included her sister in her senior picture, which is so sweet. 💕

      Like

  19. This is such a lovely thing to do! Thanks for the link – I might have to give it a try! Your poem is beautiful, and so many of the lines resonate with me.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I think you did a great job! Poetry is a weak area for me, so I don’t know that I’ll tackle this one myself. But I’ll give it some thought.

    I grew up eating Special K while my brother loved Cap’n Crunch and Cookie Crisp. Even I think I was a little weird, lol.

    What were you afraid the neighbors might hear exactly? Could be bedroom shenanigans, murder plans, gossip about their kid…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Poetry is a weakness of mine as well, but I’m learning to enjoy reading it.

      Even though the top of my mouth would disagree, Cap n’ Crunch is delicious.

      LOL- mostly arguments, loud voices, etc., but murder plans made me laugh out loud

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Hi Kari, Eyes leaking as I read this…my memories are not the same as yours, yet I can feel feel your powerful emotions from your words. Possibly, this is what poetry does to me. I don’t know much about poetry. I do know when goosebumps appear on my arms.

    I may do this in future…part of me does not know where to begin since I have infinite memories. Your poem reminds me how my senses store experiences. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. 💕 Erica

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, Erica, thank you! You’ve made me feel so much better about my poem! And here I was, nervous about sharing it.

      Because you have so many memories, I think you could compose several of these poems! It’s a lovely little project, and I hope you decide to do it. 😘

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Kari—-this is beautiful! I love it so much. I am not a poet either, but I might look into doing this at some point. That photo is just amazing and I see so much of you and your daughters and your grandmother. EXO.

    Liked by 1 person

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