my origins (aka: where I am from)

I am from storybooks and

Cabbage Patch dolls,

from a box of 124 crayons.

I am from cinnamon rolls, banana bread,

and gravy poured over broken biscuits.

From yellow and green gingham,

the CareBears, and pink and blue bows.

I am from the new, new house

in a little bit of Forth Worth.

From the parsonage next to

the small-town church

with the two story slide.

I am from mud pies,

picnics in the front yard,

porch swings and rocking chairs.

I am from “life is not fair”

and “I told you so.”

From washing windows on Saturday

and it’s your turn to empty the dishwasher.

I am from preachers,

Sunday school teachers,

and the church pianist.

I’m from Jesus Loves the Little Children,

and Great is Thy Faithfulness.

I’m from pajama days

and a little black pick-up truck.

From chicken and dumplings,

chips and salsa, peppermint birthday cakes,
and don't forget the Diet Coke and Bluebell.

I'm from Podunk, Arkansas
and Smalltown, Texas.

From huge family get-togethers, days on the lake,

and Christmas at Grandma’s.

I am from the woman who tossed cold water on her rowdy boys,

the high school sweethearts who married,

the boy who was tricked to run down a steep hill,

the strangers who met on a bus.

I am from the boy who jumped off a bridge and broke his nose,

from the girl in the fluffy pink sweater who hated her curls.

I am from Dot and Joe, Mildred and Euel, Joi and Ken,

from love and laughter, faith and family,

hugs and kisses.

~*~*~*~*~

Giving credit where credit is due: Poems like this have been circling the web for awhile now--I first remember seeing them in the winter/spring of 2005.  They are inspired by George Ella Lyons' poem "Where I'm From." And, there is even a template to help you get started if you'd like to write your own.