Where I'm From

1
Where I'm From George Ella Lyon I am from
clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride
. I am from the dirt under the back
porch.(Black, glistening, it tasted like
beets.) I am from the forsythia bushthe Dutch
elmwhose long-gone limbs I rememberas if they
were my own. I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,
          from Imogene and Alafair. I'm from
the know-it-alls          and the pass-it-ons,
from Perk up! and Pipe down! I'm from He
restoreth my soul          with a cottonball
lamb          and ten verses I can say myself.
I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch, fried corn
and strong coffee. From the finger my
grandfather lost           to the auger, the
eye my father shut to keep his sight. Under my
bed was a dress boxspilling old pictures, a
sift of lost facesto drift beneath my dreams. I
am from those moments--snapped before I budded
--leaf-fall from the family tree.
2
where im from Hallie Herz im from cub
scouts and demolay, from tiddlywinks, black
licorice, and bazooka bubblegum, from squeeze my
finger and just try it-youll like it, from
harriet the spy, lacrosse, and blackberries
behind the house, from baseball games in hip-high
grass, from crosby, stills, and nash, robison and
friedman, elvis, and Dinah Washington.
im from thirty years in California, smiles in a
pink photo album, the twinkle in your eye.
3
Where Im From Leanna Trimper I am from cold
winters, falling water and bitter wind. I am
from Ghost in the Graveyard wearing all black
at dusk in summer. I am from Mr. Rogers,
Smurfs, and Ren Stimpy. I am from
T-ball and Big League Bubble Gum. I am from
backyard BBQs, Nancy Drew Books and ACDC. I am
from generations of Immigrants unnamed in photos
tucked away in my closet.
4
Where are you from?

• Here are some questions to get you started
• At age 12
• What toys did you play with?
• What sports/games did you play?
• What did you do in your spare time?
• What singers/groups did you listen to?
• What candy did you buy?
• What were the fashions?
• What was a saying/expression that other kids were
  using?
• What was your favorite TV show?
• What celebrity or public figure did you admire or
  have a crush on?