In the Style of George Ella Lyon, Where I'm From

I assign this poem to students all the time but I’ve never tried to do it myself so today’s mentor poem is Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon.

Here’s my first draft.

Where I’m From

I am from sunshine
clothes hanging on the line
oranges and apricots
(not a fan)
walnuts and almonds
(could never get enough)
I am from catfish
caught by papa
frozen by nana in a wax milk carton
to feed us in the winter months.

I am from Captain Kangaroo
Miss Nancy’s magic mirror
Bosco syrup and KoolAid
Red Skeleton and Ed Sullivan
G.I. Joe full-size and Barbie
with no moving parts.

I am from White Gloves and Party Manners
dresses made at home
winter coats from Rhodes
the PowWow parade
and fireworks at the high school on the fourth of July.

In my attic bedroom
I slept with open windows
the smell orange blossoms
carried to my dreams
by the ghosts that shared my space.

Susan Taylor Brown

12 Comments

Linda Baie April 7, 2013 at 5:25 am - Reply

It’s always a pleasure to see what others write from this poem. I enjoy hearing about some of your favorite memories, Susan, & like those first lines, “I am from sunshine/clothes hanging on the line.” Lovely!
- Susan Taylor Brown April 7, 2013 at 9:58 pm - Reply
  
  Thanks, Linda. I want to come back to this one and do some more as soon as I find my notebook where I listed a lot of these sorts of memories. I love seeing the lightbulb moment with students when they “get” how to do their own version of this poem.
ellie April 7, 2013 at 9:01 am - Reply

What fantastic poems, both the original and yours. I LOVE the idea of listing where you are from, and never mentioning a place.

Reading your poem, Susan, especially verse two, I realize we are from the same place, er, I mean time.
- Susan Taylor Brown April 7, 2013 at 9:59 pm - Reply
  
  Thanks, Ellie. It’s a fun way to give out details about yourself without giving everything away. hahaha that we are from the same “place”
Jenn Hubbard April 7, 2013 at 11:57 am - Reply

Your poems this month are just amazing. It’s a great Natl Poetry Month!
- Susan Taylor Brown April 7, 2013 at 9:59 pm - Reply
  
  Thanks, Jenn. I’m pushing myself and having a lot of fun in the process.
Catherine Johnson April 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm - Reply

Hi Susan, I’m glad I found your blog in time for these poetry treats. I can’t believe you did that in one day. It’s brilliant! George Ella Lyon is one of my favorite authors.
- Susan Taylor Brown April 8, 2013 at 5:12 pm - Reply
  
  Thanks for the kind words. I still want to dink with this but I was pleased for a first draft. It’s a special challenge to me to write them and post them right away rather than hang onto them forever for constant revision. 🙂
Anne McKenna April 12, 2013 at 4:07 am - Reply

I EMERGE FROM

I emerge from the darkness
Within my troubled soul
Where bad memories loom
Sadness engulfs my very being

I emerge from my confusion
to embrace a more positive life
Te restore my long lost confidence
To rid myself of all negative energy

I emerge from the black fog
To see the world or colours a plenty
Some that I see for the first time
I open my eyes to see a new light

I emerge from myself as I am
To discover a more enriched self
with renewed self esteem
Someone I can be proud of

I just emerge.

– Anne McKenna
- Susan Taylor Brown April 12, 2013 at 10:03 am - Reply
  
  Lovely, Anne. I think you should tape this up around the house so you can see it all the time.
  - Anne McKenna April 12, 2013 at 1:32 pm - Reply
    
    Thank you, maybe you are right but all my poems seem to be coming from some deep place at the moment. In a strange way it is really helping me discover a lot about myself and I have so many more to go.
    
    Anne
    - Susan Taylor Brown April 13, 2013 at 6:55 am - Reply
      
      That’s what poetry does, Anne. It helps us heal.

In the Style of George Ella Lyon, Where I'm From