Where I'm From

For the last three weeks, my students have turned in their reading basals to focus on reading and writing poetry. Each day they read a poem in a different style, respond to it, then write their own poem within that style. Impressed by how much they have fallen in love with reading and writing poetry, even my low achievers!, I decided to get a little crafty of my own and write my own poem.

This poem was inspired by George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From"... Here's my version of "Where I'm From".

Where I'm From

I am from country fields and dirt roads 

   from Stride Rite shoes and ice cold glasses of Sundrop

I am from the loving, safe white house with the front porch and swing set out back

   the house that will always be home

I am from the bright yellow daisies and the hot pink tulips

   that smell sweet after the spring showers

I'm from the Rook players and hard workers

   from Ted and Linda and my siblings too

I'm from the Sunday morning churchgoers and 

   the never-ending family gatherers

From the "live a life that's pleasing to God" and

   the "You can do anything you put your mind to"

I'm from the wooden church pews

   where lives have been surrendered and changed forever

I'm from the quaint town of Reidsville, NC

   where Short Sugars barbeque and Reid's House's banana pudding is always served

From the stable hand who fell in love with the wealthy boss' daughter to 

   the parents who met cruising on a nice summer's day

Where pictures are always on the mantel

I am from the family whose memories, stories, quotes, and gatherings will always be    

    remembered and never forgotten. 

 

                                                                                             - Sara Holt