Where I Come From

Here's a repeat from awhile ago that a thoughtful blog bud sent to me.


Miss Kris asked me if I'd like to do this and it looked like fun so here goes. These are the instructions she had with her meme.

What this Meme is about is writing your very own personal poem about "Where You're From"...and it's very personal because you'll use bits and pieces from your life to write about. It's so simple...and the results are remarkable. I'm including the outline for you to use...it's up to you to fill in the blanks. Here is the outline:

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).

Let me know if you decide to try it yourselves so I can come see!

Here is what I was finally able to construct.

I am from the envy of starch-stiff can-cans hanging on a clothes line,
From Juicy Fruit gum and lick-em at leisure Slow Poke Suckers.
I am from the nothing near fancy, this place and that,
A tree for switches in the back.
I am from the cotton fields and morning glories, cracklings fresh from the oven,
The scents and tastes unbelievable unless you'd savored them yourself.
I am from huge family hoe-downs, blond ladies with green eyes,
From Laveada and Ruth, and Grandpa Fisher.
I am from the family of men who faithfully served,
And women who kept the home fires burning and porch lights on.
From don't forget to say please and thank you, and I had a good time.
I am from The Old Rugged Cross and Sunday school classes,
Summer Bible School and Baptist baptisms.
I'm from a small town hospital near our southern country spot,
And before that came tepees and the rush for land,
Home-made sauerkraut and skillet cornbread hot with fresh-churned butter.
From the horse thief who hung from a scaffold,
The man with red hair who died before I was imagined,
But who left his hair and eyes to my son,
I am from the small packet of extra prints that others gave me,
The scrapbooks so lovingly thought through,
So as not to forget where I came from.