Thursday, September 23, 2010

Where I Am From



I originally wrote this poem for Red Dress Club.

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop has now offered the same prompt, and I'm linking up because I'm quite proud of this poem!

It is a poem in which you follow the pattern, "I am from..." To learn more about the origins of this idea, click here.

Where I am From

I am from a phoenix rising in the ashes of a desert valley, the hum of an AC, and hope for rain.

I am from the smell of oleander leaves – they take over a backyard – and compete with the smell of chlorine in a busy pool.

I am from cactus and roadrunners, birds of paradise and mesquite. They were quite common to me, and under-appreciated for too long.

I am from Grandma’s house on Swiddler. I am from Grandpa Jack and Grandma Ruth’s parties and bologna sandwiches. I am from birdhouses and strawberry plants and a passion for living life without looking back.

I am from a spirit of longing and searching. For more.

I am from a place of being seen but not heard. Until you have proven yourself.

I am from do as I say, not as I do. Create your own model.

I am from a place where God resides in the world around us, in unsuspecting places.
From a place of grace, in the midst of human error.

I’m from a city of escape, to where new standards can be created.

I am from the whirring of an ice cream machine maker, crushing ice into something softer, in the heat of a night.

I am from John Lennon in the morning, windows wide open, and a mother cleaning the kitchen. Making life fresh.

I am from rain that is rare. Rain that pours down the gutters. It calls to children to play in a moment that doesn’t come often.

I am from a hope chest that holds letters and blankets, obituaries, and sheet music. I am from a hope chest that is full, but with enough space to hold a little more.

I am from all that is before me, with hope to hold a little more.

20 comments:

Rathi said...

YAY!! i loved this Kristy.. especially the last one... it is so beautiful... and tells so much about you..

Anna Walker said...

Love Love Love this So MUCH!
:)

Tina L. Hook said...

I can sooo relate to longing and searching for more.

I also resonated with the image of your mother cleaning with the windows wide open. Great line.

Adelle said...

I wish I had mentioned my hope chest, too! Very well done. Las Vegas, I assume?

Eileen @ Bringing Up Bronwyn said...

You and oleander is me and eucalyptus.

Beautifully written :)

The Drama Mama said...

Absolutely beautiful. I REALLY loved that closing line. It sums it up perfectly.

Rebekah C said...

Seen and not heard...do as I say...oh yes. This is so poignant. Well done!

Oddyoddyo13 said...

I can relate to being from the heat! Gorgeous post!

Cheryl said...

I love the hope chest with room to hold more. Beautiful!

Shauna said...

Hope you have a great weekend! :)

Unknown said...

Just lovely...Thanks for stopping by during my SITS Day!

angela said...

Love this. My midwestern self loved the desert descriptions.

colbymarshall said...

So pretty! Love it!

Karen M. Peterson said...

This is so beautiful.

I didn't write anything with this prompt because it felt like it took a certain degree of poetry and I am SO not a poet.

Jessica Anne said...

I love the hope chest too and the rare rain. Beautifully done.

Nancy C said...

Yup, I was thinking Phoenix, and when I saw it in your labels, I was happy to be right.

From one AZ girl to another, you nailed it. The new beginnings of the people who choose to live there, the yearing for rain, all of it.

I also loved the image of the mother making everything fresh when she's cleaning. And yes, that grace. Thank goodness for that.

Anonymous said...

This one brought tears to my eyes.

kathryn said...

So beautiful. You have quite a gift for expressing yourself, sweetie. I'm so glad you share it with all of us.

Nichole said...

This is just lovely!
This line is my absolute favorite image: "I am from the whirring of an ice cream machine maker, crushing ice into something softer, in the heat of a night."

Vicki @ Grams Made It said...

Really good job. I especially like "I am from John Lennon in the morning, windows wide open, and a mother cleaning the kitchen. Making life fresh." Good, vivid imagery.