Where do we come from? What makes us who we are?
This poem answers those questions.
Title (Your poem needs a clever title that says something about you.)
I am from (a specific item in your room or home)
from (two objects or places that have been important to you growing up, like a stuffed animal or the skate park).
I am from (a word or phrase that describes your immediate family)
and from (a family saying, trait, tendency, something your family is known for or always does, like "Eat your vegetables!", "Finish your homework!", but it doesn't have to be something someone says).
I am from (a plant, tree, or natural item that is important to you)
whose/ that's (Why is it important? Note that whose and that's are possessive. You can change the word to something else like who's in order to make the line work.).
I am from (your favorite hobby or something you like to do after school or even in school)
and (your favorite type of music or a favorite song).
I am from (a family member's name) and (another family member's name)
and from (two foods that make you think of family gatherings).
I am from those moments when (think of a feeling, time, or place when you are completely happy and at peace).
Some examples:
From Tangerine Walls to a Shooting Star
I am from tangerine walls and shelves full of rummage sale treasures.
From a warm dance studio and ice cream sleepovers.
I am from a family who is always there at home, on stage, and after school.
And from being kind doesn't cost a thing.
I am from the sandy beaches of the Florida coast
Whose feeling of waves stay with you long after you leave.
I am from homework and dinner in the car on the way to dance class
And Tchaikovsky's music in my head all year long.
I am from Steve and Kathy
and from meatloaf or chicken and rice for birthday meals.
I am from those moments when the night sky is pitch black
and you see your first shooting star.
And here is my example:
Sixty Years and Counting (written on my 60th birthday, 2/24/2024)
I am from the two-sided study desk my father built for my brother and me. Sitting catty-corner from each other, we did our homework on its glossy white surface;
from Smokey Bear who I’ve had for over 50 years, who’s as bald as I am, but still keeps watch in my classroom, and from the blue spiraled bowling ball I got when I was 16 that I take out on every birthday since then for the yearly celebration;
I am from two still-living octogenarian parents and three siblings, all of whom live within minutes of each other;
and from a father who is so giving, he should be named a saint, and a mother who has sacrificed so much to care for her family;
I am from the forests and mountains and streams of Arkansas where I spent my summers growing up and now return to on as many occasions as I can whose sense of peace and freedom and serenity sustains me from one vacation to the next;
I am from hikes, bikes, and books; and the Spa station on SiriusXM satellite radio;
I am from Jim and Ann, and from three-colored jello, chuck salad, and hambeanie;
I am from those moments that give me a quiet time to reflect on the blessings of my life.