Some time ago, there was a clever writing exercise going around the blogosphere that was designed to help bloggers get acquainted. Started by an Appalachian author and poet, George Ella Lyon she began her version this way:
"I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
I am from the dirt under the black porch. (Black, glistening, it tasted like beets.)"
Today I have a writing challenge for you, if you would like to play along. Copy and paste the template below into your word processor and work on it over a few days. You might be surprised by what you find as you rummage around in the cobwebs of your memories—your personality, your family history, and the places you've called home.
Once you've filled in the blanks to your satisfaction, post your own version of the poem. Come back and leave your link in my comment box below. (Any time in the next two weeks is fine.) I'll be awarding a "mystery prize" to the poet who writes the most compelling piece.
Sounds easy? Here's my example (or scroll down) and another one to get you started.
Poem Template
I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail).
I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency)
and _______ (another one).
From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).
I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).
From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail), and the _______ (another detail about another family member).
I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
If you could be from anywhere, where would you rather be from?
38 Comments:
Via Facebook, A Stone Gatherer wrote...
I'll give it a try!
Via Facebook, Roo said...
Oh fun!
Via Facebook...
Kim
You know I really like Michigan! But if I had to pick somewhere in the mountains.
April
I love PA, but it would sound much more exciting if I could say I was from Saskatchewan.
Faith
well you know i love the mountains of NYS, the adks but the Alps sure would top it!
Tammy
Good question! But when my dad was alive, he always use to say after settling up here in beautiful Oregon, "Texas is a great place to be FROM." Meaning, it was cool to say that was your birthplace but he would never move back in a million yrs.
E-Mom
Texas, eh? (Our son thinks it would be a great place to live.) I met some sweet Texas ladies at Bible study and really enjoyed them. It certainly would be VERY different for us PNWers. :~D
Tammy
There's probably some nice places in Texas but my dad was from the dry, flat, barren area. What's worse, when he was little he witnessed first hand the dust bowl, so seeing the NW was like paradise. :)
Kim
Oh I have seen Mt. Rainier and it is beautiful beyond words. We were in a hotel in Seattle, the night before we were leaving Washington. I went to the vending machine and there our the window she stood! Breathtaking!!!! There are so many places we want to see and show our kids. We are hoping to get back to Washington soon!
emom! just wanted to quickly answer your question you left in my comment box --
no -- not last winters trip...THIS winter...we are in florida right now. :)
ps to answer your question -- i would love to from a place that sat on a mountain...with a creek running past it...and hopefully, a nice coffee shop on the corner. hahaha. i dont know where this plaace is...but i would like it. hmmmm.
Roo: Too bad there aren't any mountains in Florida! (We know, we checked it out right after Katrina... lots of alligators, though.)
Sounds like you're longing for Millenial Jerusalem. Hmmm. I wonder if Jesus drinks lattes? :~D
I hope this is where I need to post my poem! Here is the link
http://nunezcj.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am.html
Cindy Jasmine: Love, love, loved your poem! Thanks for posting your link. You've lived a very interesting life--Afghanistan, Chicago, and Mexico... WOW! :~D
e-Mom :)
I think you left a comment on the actual post about re-posting it sometime to which I respond
OF COURSE!!! THAT would be uber-sweet :)
thank you so much for even asking and for taking the time to read it
Cindy Jasmine: Thanks so much!!! :~D
Anonymous said...
I am from stacks of library books, from strawberry Jello in copper molds, and Mom’s clam chowder.
I am from the small ranch house on the dead end street with neighbor kids playing tag until dark.
I am from Mom’s sword ferns in back and wild blackberries picked for jam.
I am from trailer camping trips at the ocean and pinochle nights and Dad’s razor clam digging and my brothers’ hot rods.
I am from three quiet kids and Mom reading stores and Dad working graveyard.
I am from “Make Sure You Feed the Cat,” and “You Will Look Cute …Just Try It On.”
I am from Sunday drives not sermons and forgotten lines in Christmas programs.
I am from pan-fried hamburgers and potato salad and homemade cinnamon rolls cut with a string.
I am from slide shows and Mt. Rainier poses and black/white snapshots with wavy edges.
I am from square dance potlucks and late nights reading.
I am from remembering to “reframing” to praising!
This ended up just being about my childhood... kinda a tribute to my women!
http://avoidingthesandyland.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-from.html
I'd like to come from somewhere a bit warmer!!!
In response to your comment re St John the Evangelist Day - officially it is still a recognised day by the Anglican Church although I think he is now referred to as "John, Apostle and Evangelist". The Roman Catholics still refer to him as St John. I am using the old fashioned names, from when people in England still kept up traditions for these Christmas Days. Most Anglicans wouldn't think to celebrate (St) John's Feast Day now. I can't help thinking that people knew a lot more about what was in their Bibles in the days when we used to celebrate all these different Feast Days. I sometimes wonder if people even know why they celebrate Christmas.
BTW I am so impressed that you attend the revels!
I hope I'm doing this correctly. Here is the link to my "I am From..." poem.
www.ditchinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-from.html
April said...
Here is my attempt -
http://april-in-january.blogspot.com/2010/01/guilty-of-attempted-poetry.html
Crickl at Crickl's Nest said...
Mine is up! http://cricklsnest.blogspot.com/2010/01/crickl-is-from.html
Okay, you twisted my arm and made me think! Here's my attempt:
http://tamiboesiger.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-from.html
Someone named "e" said...
i linked to you through my friend's blog, "avoiding the sandy land". here's the link to my poem. :)
http://flower-e-mommy.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-from.html
I found you through "The Next Step," and couldn't resist trying my hand at this wonderful poetic endeavor. I loved your version, and I'd be honored if you'd drop by and visit mine if you get a chance.
http://justanotherclaypot.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-from.html
Mine's finally up! http://mipasmonologue.blogspot.com/2010/01/who-i-am-poetic-challenge.html
As far as where would I like to be from...I've been so blessed to live so many places that there is no where pressing. But we do dream of Asia someday (okay dh dreams and I submit).
oh I joined in the fun! :)
http://the160acrewoods.com/?p=4320
Amydeanne: LOL... you wrote yours backwards/upside down.
You're SO clever. Love it!
Neat imagery: "the umbrellas we floated from the roof of grandmothers house." And bannock is one of my father's favourites.
Thanks for joining the fun, Amydeanne.
(((Hugs)))
P.S. I like your revolving banner. VERY cool.
zxcvbnm said...
Where Are You From?
I am from sea-urchins and anchovies, and from Lighthouse Sea Salt and the Mediterranean’s best-kept secret island... I am from the Grand Harbour view flat, cosy, homely, comfortable, an islander who feels as much at home in the water as outside it.
I am from the tiger lily freckles and the honeysuckle tendrils, and orange blossom water used as scent because it smells faintly of 4711.
I am from the lion rampant holding the fleur-de-lys; the stubborn and the witty, the tall and the big-footed. I am from the Paul and the Catherine, but also from Valletta, Vittoriosa and Zabbar.
I am from the parsimonious yet generous, proud yet humble, solitary yet friendly clan. The ones who lisp. From the intelligent and gifted and clumsy and inept. The bookish. The let’s do crafts but not homework especially if it’s mathematics.
I am from the Catholic Pessimist and Jewish Cynic and Agnostic Believer. I read and I write and I empathise with most.
I'm from Malta, land of honey, capers, prickly pears and olives, from if I’ve told you once I’ve told you a thousand times. And Linz in Austria. And Foggia in Italy. And anchovy and spinach pie and rabbit stew and vegetable soup with ham hock.
From the person who had stalls in the marketplace, from the person who did bobbin lace without using a pattern, from one who preserved fruits and vegetables and sold them to support her family, from the person who made designer patchwork quilts from fents.
I am from the sideboard drawers bursting at the seams with millions of photographs in sepia and monochrome. I am from Alexandria, Egypt, but also from a cauldron of Phoenician, Carthaginian, Norman and French genes.
I am me.
Tanja Chilja
tanjachilja@hotmail.com
Here's my link:
http://beckyworks.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/i-am/
Thanks for the idea. I enjoyed writing it once I got started.
Jan at Bold & Free Ministries left this link...
http://janparrish.blogspot.com/2010/02/where-im-from.html
Helen left this link...
http://helenspointstoponder.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-am-from.html
Kay Day left her link here...
http://loopdeloops.blogspot.com/2010/02/im-from.html
Deborah said...
Here is my link...
http://mussacksnotes.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-just-found-out-there-is-contest-for.html
PhoenixPhire's link...
http://www.phoenixphire-thisandthathereandthere.blogspot.com
ohmygosh - i did this in college! I'll have to drag the one I wrote then and write a new one! fun.
Here is Jennifer at Diary of 1's link:
http://www.diaryof1.com/2010/02/13/i-am-from/
Kathi at A Mother's Prayers left this link...
http://6arrows.blogspot.com/2010/02/where-i-am-from.html
Pebblechaser's link...
http://pebblechaser.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/i-am-from/
This was fun! Thanks!
http://wendymhall.blogspot.com/2010/02/poetry-exercise.html
This was fun! Thank you! I found you from Kathi from a mother's prayers.
Leanne
LLJ's poem (Leane above) is here:
http://joyful-hope.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-am-from.html
Poem Template
I am from a book, from a Tefal saucepan and Pickwick tea bags.
I am from the cosy couch, warm and old, creacking.
I am from the vibrant coloured gerbra and the innocent smelling lilacs in the summer garden.
I am from cooking brown peas soup and telling jokes, from Gerrit and Dientje, and Riny.
I am from the overload on food and the you-are-always-welcome-mode.
From continue to go on no matter what and conquer with a friendly face.
I am from atheist via something-ism through Christ a reformed soul.
I'm from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and a lot of dams in between.
I'm from eggs at Easter, chicken at Christmas and oliebollen at New Year’s Eve.
From the smuggled cigarettes of my mom, the cracker cigar of my dad and the pipe of my granddad.
I am from loads of pictures in albums, stashes of silly things on the attic and the priceless memories in my head.
Wil: Thanks for posting your poem. I thoroughly enjoyed it! :~D
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