"Where I'm From"

I've been thinking about something my sons' friend said several years ago when I asked him where he was from. He replied that he was from nowhere. That one word, 'nowhere' overwhelmed and saddened me and I have never forgotten it. How can anyone be from 'nowhere'? I imagine that if you don't know 'where you're from', how can you know where you're going?

George Ella Lyons poem "Where I'm From" speaks directly to this.

This past week, I used George Ella Lyons poem "Where I'm From" as a mentor text and lesson for my two 4th grade writing classes. During writing workshop, we listened to George Ella Lyons read her poem from her website. We made our 'where I'm from' lists and then began drafting our own 'inspired by' poems. I was amazed at how the children crafted their thoughts from seed ideas that spoke to them. Three days later, we shared our finished pieces. We learned alot about each other, but I think we also learned alot about ourselves.  Here's mine.

"Where I'm From"

a poem inspired by George Ella Lyons

I’m from sunshine on my shoulder
Sitting at my computer when I write
I’m from Labradors to puppy breath
and trying to fit all the pieces of my life into one neat package
I’m from faded photographs of ancestors I’ll never know
Leftover pieces of their lives a part of mine but not

I’m from NH to NC
and wishing I could be both places
I’m from the sparkling pond waters
To the view I never want to leave
I’m from missing my parents
To smiles of memories past

I’m from never want to grow up
To where did the time go?
From “Around Robin Hood’s barn”
And Heavens to Mergatroid
From ‘just standing there’
To a mother who cares.

I’m from way too skinny
To thankfully still thin
And sometimes I still wonder
As I’m just standing there

Where I’m from.