I am from...

A friend had a poem on her blog about her life, so I thought I'd re-post it about myself:


I am from dusty farm caps and homemade chocolate chip cookies and Sunday football on TV.
I am from the two-story white house with peach trim.
I am from the tall cottonwoods by the river and the rhubarb in the garden.

I am from making lefsa on holidays and really big heads (literally); from Olga and Virgil, Muetzel's and Wellner's.

I am from the "mind your p's and q's" and "pull yourself up by your boot straps."
From "let your brother play with you" and "don't be so sensitive."

I am from stoic Lutherans and singing hymns in three-part harmony.
I am from Germany and Norway; meat and potatoes.

From the brother who calls me for advice; the brother who stuck up for me and got in a fist fight; the brother who yells "sister!" when I walk in the room.

I am from the old cardboard photo albums with yellowing plastic, the family pictures on the piano from decades gone by.



Here's how to write your own poem based on your childhood memories, family history and life experiences:

(Adapted from Fred First, Fragments from Floyd (County). Retrieved August 23, 2008, from: http://www.fragmentsfromfloyd.com/archives/2005_02.html#003144)

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item you had around your home growing up), and from _______ (another item from your childhood) and _______ (a specific memory).

I am from the _______ (home description, including 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 saying or value shared with you as you were growing up).

I am from ___________ (faith/religious/spiritual beliefs you were raised with) and __________ (further description of a detail of this).

I am 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).