Where I'm From

Yesterday I spent a good deal of my glorious free day on a journey through the blogosphere.  Life has been so busy lately that I've only had time to peek in on my favorites, with no time to hop from link to link, which is of course half the fun.  The rest of my day was spent scribbling, trying to lure the muse to come out of hiding and play a game with me.

I blame give all the credit to Michele, whose Daily Comment Game sent me to Music and Cats.  One of Kimberly's posts led me to Pratie Place, where I found not only a fellow Tar Heel but a wonderful post containing an exercise that Melinama had picked up at Fragments from Floyd. 

The exercise is based on a poem by George Ella Lyons called Where I'm From.  Fred's post kindly included a guide to help those who might need it (that would be me).  I'm reserving the right to play with it some more, but for now, here is

Where I'm From

I am from sand dollars and Sea and Ski
and the whole world contained in a tidal pool.
I am from overdue library books and Oreos
and tea parties after school.

I am from a tiny Riverside kitchen, abundant in love
and children
and molasses-filled biscuits.
I am from squeaky screen doors and sun-dried linens
and the golden promise of forsythia.

I am from the wild tangle of honeysuckle
the salt-cured planks of the pier
the cool green sanctuary under the willow tree.

I am from walks by the ocean and foolish pride,
from Lilla and Thelma
and Carolyn-now-Lynn.

I am from mule-headed stubborn and talking too much,
from singing along and dancing fools.
I am from Murphy was an optimist and bless your heart.
I am from the best part of the day.

I am from Jesus loves me
just as I am.
I am from dinner on the grounds and I'll fly away oh glory
and Jesus Christ Superstar.

I am from Edgecombe County and the muddy Tar,
from forbidden dunes and the endless Atlantic.
I am from ham biscuits,
butterbeans shelled this morning
and Pop's peach ice cream.

I am from the girl who sang with the band
and won the heart of the soldier,
from the milkman's daughter and the man with no voice
(he loved to fish).
I am from pirates and poets and painters
All of the gifts; none of the glory.

I am from Mason's shrine and Granny's cedar chest,
from Daddy's photographs and Tracy's poems.
I am from crocheted blankets, delicate as lace,
from cut-glass dishes and perfectly seasoned cast-iron skillets.
I am from familiar melodies and forgotten secrets
and a million grains of sand.

Comments

[Zinnia Cyclamen]

Hi, I'm here from Michele's comment game. I saw that post on 'Music and Cats' as well. Your version is beautiful, and I love the way it loops around so that the end holds an echo of the beginning.

[Michele]

Simply glorious. Have you told Meliamana that you posted this? She does like ot know these things.

[Melinama]

Boy Howdy, that Michele gets around! She alerted me that you had done this and I've added it to my list. I'm glad you did it. Tell your friends!

http://pratie.blogspot.com/2005/02/update-where-im-from-meme.html

[A-Dub]

hey, i like your blog a lot!

michele sent me

[honestyrain]

that was lovely.

michel sent me.

[tommy]

thanks for stopping by. I guess I'm going ot have to start answering these things. All of the cool kids are doing it and I so want to be one of the cool kids.

[bullet]

great blog..think i'll be dropping in more often ;)
..and btw.. michele sent me :)

[kristen]

hi there, michele sent me

[Lynda]

I found this exercise the same way you did and I am so glad I did - yours is wonderfully written and lovely.

[emily]

I love finding great new reads.

[wavybrains]

I love that!! That is so unbelievably beautiful! Thanks so much for stopping by today:) And yeah, I think we must be related too :P

[Melinama]

Hi,
It's up: http://pratie.blogspot.com/2005/03/second-tar-heel-tavern-here.html
link to it if you get a chance...
Thanks,
Jane

[Ella]

This is lovely. Thanks for stopping by my site via Michele’s.

[ililani]

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love the 'I am from poems' as well because they force us to find the essence of who we are and when I read them I like to find both the unique of each of us as well as the thing that connects all of us. Kinda like the Kevin Bacon thing.

These are among my favorite lines of your poem. They say so much much, my father fished as well and was a man of few words. There is buried treasure here :)

from the milkman's daughter and the man with no voice
(he loved to fish).
I am from pirates and poets and painters
All of the gifts; none of the glory.

[kisane]

Lovely poem! I saw it too at Floyd's and yours is one of the nicest I've read. I'll be back to read more...nice blog!

[Pearl]

Gorgeous.

[Jan]

I stumbled upon your site while reading all the Who I Am poem...I too am from Edgecombe county. What a small world! Loved the poem

[Owlhaven]

This is wonderful! I wrote one yesterday..

Mary, mom to many