Where I’m From

Published on by kellyhuntson 
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I am from candlelight

from frilly lace and slippered feet.

I am from the broken bedroom mirror trimmed in golden fleur-de-lis.

I am from showy-scarlet snapdragons, tall on Grandma’s fence

the stains of fallen crabapples, fresh on Grandpa’s hands. 

I’m from ice skating and dirt bikes

one down and five up

from Lucy Evangeline’s poetry 

and the rule of Lord Curzon.

I’m from the go-for-its 

and the soft-hearted

from fiercely independent and just because.

I’m from Let There Be Peace On Earth

barefoot, in a college town. 

I’m from the Rhineland and England

buttered knedle and all things chocolate.

From Grandpa’s beloved woodworking patterns 

and summers on Michigan lakes.

Across the bridge and further down a winding river’s road

held safely in my mother’s arms within my childhood home

the treasure of my family resides.

~

Copyright © Kelly Huntson and kellyhuntson.com All rights reserved.

*originally published December, 2018

Written as an exercise with my writing group using a template (loosely) from George Ella Lyon’s poem, “Where I’m From.”

If you’ve never written a “Where I’m From” poem, I highly recommend it! They can be written over and over again at any age. You may even learn something new about your ancestry. The more personal and specific you are with the details, the more special it will be for you. 

Here is a link to the template for the poem if you are interested.

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Bits and pieces of “where I’m from” now shine on this heart ornament, thanks to Lynne Fisher’s lovely craft idea included with her post at https://lynnefisher.wordpress.com

24 thoughts on “Where I’m From”

  4. Thank you as well! And yes, you absolutely should try it! It’s a very unique, rewarding experience. It can take a while to create, especially if you engage in research, but how much you put into it is up to you.

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  7. Hello! !
    Today I decorated the Christmas tree. I really enjoyed it! Every year I get very excited, I decorate the Christmas tree and it begins to feel like Christmas. I think this year’s Christmas tree is also very beautiful.
    Ryoma.

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  8. Hi Ryoma! That’s great! Good to see you! I agree, there’s nothing like decorating the tree to get in the Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas!

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  11. Go for it, Dale! You will truly enjoy it!
    The most difficult thing for me was narrowing down what I wanted to include while somewhat preserving the template and the cadence. But have fun with it, make it YOU!

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  13. Definitely, depending on how deeply you go into your family ancestry. I already know quite a bit about mine because I have family members who have done geneaology work.

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  20. Thank you, Lynne! Everything on the heart was previously tucked away in boxes and jars, but now glitters on the Christmas tree, thanks to you! The pearl beads on the edge are from my maternal grandmother, the hat pin belonged to my paternal grandmother, the wooden heart was made for me by my maternal grandfather, the sea glass was collected with my kids, and all the other items hold special meaning too.

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