Where I'm From

From author EB White in Elements of Style: "The use of language begins with imitation. Take pains to admire what is good. Then when you write in a way that comes naturally, you will echo the halloos that bear repeating."
Mrs. Bean reminds us to read, read, read, and read good stuff. As we do, our writing will reflect the good reading we've absorbed. When beginning our own personal histories, look for memoirs and poetry that speak to you. If you choose to imitate the form, be sure to give credit to the original source. One of my favorite projects from our writing class was inspired by George Ella Lyons, a Kentucky author who has published in many genres including articles, juveniles novels, picture books, and poetry. Here is her poem:

Where I’m From
By George Ella Lyon
I am from clothespins,
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
I am from the dirt under the back porch.
(Black, glistening
it tasted like beets.)
I am from the forsythia bush,
the Dutch elm
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.

I am from fudge and eyeglasses,
from Imogene and Alafair.
I'm from the know- it-alls
and the pass- it-ons,
from perk up and pipe down.
I'm from He restoreth my soul
with cottonball lamb
and ten verses I can say myself.

I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,
fried corn and strong coffee.
From the finger my grandfather lost
to the auger
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
Under my bed was a dress box
spilling old pictures,
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
I am from those moments --
snapped before I budded --
leaf- fall from the family tree.

Elementary School teachers around the US have been using this awesome poem in 4th and 5th grade classes recently.  I think one of the things about George Ella Lyon's poem is her use of nouns.  Again from EB White: "Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs.  The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place.  In general, it is nouns and verbs, not their assistants, that give good writing its toughness and color."

Inspired by this poem, Mrs. Bean sent me to work.  Here's what I came up with:

Where I'm From-- thanks to George Ella Lyons
I am from cloth diapers,
from baby aspirin and phenobarbital.
I am from potato bugs escaping overturned rocks
(their tiny squirming legs enthralled me.)
I am from baby's breath,
the apricot trees
whose strong branches held my curious soul
and dropped ripe fruit that
slithered and squished between my toes.

I am from tuna fish sandwiches on white bread
from General Hospital and Star Wars
at the Center Theater.
I am from high achievers and non-conformists
from VCRs and microwave ovens
and Give Said the Little Stream
as it hurried down the hill.

I am from National Geographics,
e-tickets and red vinyl bean bags
from the so-called "shark bite"
(dad's melanoma)
and his hundred bee stings covered with caladryl
and welcoming mom home with new baby Bubba.
In my closet was a treasure box
bearing proud moments--
smiles and handwriting
housing dreams for my future.
I am from these moments
glimpses before budding
One bough from the Clayton tree.

Although my posterity might not understand all of the references of my poem, I think they will know more about me and my roots from a poem than from a list of dates, places and events.  Sit for a while with George Ella Lyons and get started!  Consider it a gift to the generations.