Fragments From Floyd: Where Are You From?

This is a repost from November, 2003. I still get visitors or trackbacks from this one. It is a fun exercise in learning about the small things that give us our identities with the place or places we are from.

George Ella Lyons is an Appalachian author and poet with a long list of children's books to her credit. Her poem, Where I'm From, begins in this way: I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. I am from the dirt under the black porch. (Black, glistening it tasted like beets.)

Each of us is from a place that is more than a dot on the map. Every experience that we can recall has left its mark on who we are. Nobody is from Clorox, but can't you smell the laundry room at the poet's house as a little girl?

I'd like to make a suggestion-- not just to the 'writers' who read this, but to everyone. Actually, putting on my teacher hat: this is your assignment --

Read Where I From, all of the poem is here.

Then, write your own version-- where you're from. Here's the format, the remainder of the form is in the "continue reading" section if you want to try this worthwhile exercise. Cut and paste it into a word processor to work on later. (This is a borrowed idea, not mine, but worthwhile, I think, and meant to be passed along.)

You might be surprised what you find as you rummage around in those dusty old trunks--your personality, your family history and traits, and the places you've called home--as you complete the poem with your own memories and facts.

I think it would be a joy to read this personalized poem from a group of bloggers who "sort of" know each other. This could extend the depth of bond between strangers. The same thing applies within a family. Consider you and your spouse each filling in your own blanks, from your own unique perspective. If you don't want to post it or send a link to it to Fragments, maybe this would make a cherished gift to give your children. I'm willing to bet they will learn something about 'where you're from' that they did not know.

I will repost "Where I'm From" (the Fred version) on Friday. Maybe as the week rolls along, you'll post links to your version that you put up on your websites. It will be interesting to see the small, peculiar things we each select to define where we are from.

This may be a silly idea, but that hasn't stopped me before, why raise my standards now!? You can read some of the comments and completed poems from November, 2003, here--to get you started.

For the WHERE I'M FROM Format: Click the READ MORE link below:

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.
I am from the _______ (home description... 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).

I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.

I'm 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).

Comments

I forgot to tell you that I saved this for almost a year until it was my turn to present a project to my Journal Salon group. It was a hit!

p.s. I had an idea for your cold head (of course Spring is coming now)...a hooded shirt/sweatshirt. They make them in all weights, now, and the hoods are not as tight as they used to be.

Posted by: Jane | February 15, 2005 10:42 AM

That was a lot of fun, Fred - thanks for the idea. Quite worthwhile too - it's easy to lose sight of all those old places, wrapped up in cobwebs now.

Here's my version:
http://olderandgrowing.blogspot.com/2005/02/where-im-from.html

I'm really looking forward to reading what others come up with.

Posted by: andy | February 15, 2005 10:44 AM

Terrific stuff. I was riveted and moved by this exercise. So here, before I start to censor the first raw thoughts or get inhibited by other's contributions, is where *I'm* from.
I had to actually start my much-mooted blog in order to have somewhere to post it - how's that for a result?
It's at:
http://andthistoo.blogspot.com/2005/02/where-im-from.html

Posted by: JeanG | February 15, 2005 12:40 PM

This was a wonderful and thoughtful exercise. My version is at http://www.lauragayle.com/knittingcybrarian/2005/02/where_im_from.html. Thanks so much, Fred!

Posted by: lauragayle | February 16, 2005 11:17 AM

Here is my Where Im From. Lets see if this works Fred

http://obx2mt.blogspot.com/2005/02/i-am-from.htm

Posted by: cindy lee | February 19, 2005 1:41 PM

What a great exercise! It's producing wonderfully evocative results in very many places.
Here's mine:
http://magnificentoctopus.blogspot.com/2005/02/where-im-from.html

Posted by: Isabella | February 22, 2005 9:58 AM

Thank you for posting this again. It was a fascinating exercise. I'm enjoying seeing it ripple through the blogosphere. I plan to send it to all of the folks in my memoir writing class.

Mine is here:
http://musicandcats.blogspot.com/2005/02/i-am-from.html

Posted by: Kimberly | February 24, 2005 11:25 AM

maybe i can find time to do this one... thank you for sharing it

bloghopped from toni...

Posted by: delish | March 9, 2005 3:38 AM

Fabulous! My version is over at http://glacia.blogspot.com/2005/03/who-are-you.html

Posted by: Jacqueline | March 9, 2005 12:39 PM

Okay, if I did this right, here's mine:
http://haloscan.com/tb/urthguru/111040153895083648

Posted by: The Queen of the Snow Cows | March 9, 2005 4:04 PM

I have been looking for the template for this poem and don't seem to find the "read more" link you mention. Can you please help?

Thanks

Posted by: kimmyk_85 | March 12, 2005 10:50 PM