WHERE I AM FROM
Where Are You From?
Please read “Where I’m From” by Kimberly Zook. While we will be using the work of several poets to imitate form and style as we work to develop our own, this poem in particular is a great exercise in exploration.
Allow the prompts to draw out specific memories of places, keepsakes, family, smells, childhood homes, the spare room at Grandma’s house.
Use these memories of concrete items and specific events to create a piece that is unique to you and your experience.
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).
Example from another poet Kimberly Zook using the same form:
I am from soccer cleats,
from Cadmium Red fumes and diary keys.
I am from the suburban sprawl over pockets of Midwest corn.
(Row after row, by default.)
I am from the abandoned lot of Fescue grass, the maple red-bronze and gold-green,
that melted in between wax paper and Crayola shavings
under my mother's iron.
I am from birthday breakfast in bed and Thunder Thighs,
from 50 Mauck Lane and south side Chicago.
I am from the story tellers and poets, from survivors who eat table crumbs after meals and
Christmas money envelopes on the tree, from the gift to enjoy childhood and no college loans.
I'm from Crying Doesn't Help and You're Not Average.
I am from Baptist and Republican,
from Catholic and Democrat.
I'm from the space of seeking a belief, the yearning to know the truth.
I’m from Midwest statelines, apple crunch and Fresh Bread Tonight,
from the yard Grandma B. set on fire to the departing pulse of helicopter blades over my father in Vietnam fields.
I am from sheltered closets and superficial hallways,
scratching to escape and find a corner in the world where I belonged,
only to discover after roaming the world
my corner is home.
Please read “Where I’m From” by Kimberly Zook. While we will be using the work of several poets to imitate form and style as we work to develop our own, this poem in particular is a great exercise in exploration.
Allow the prompts to draw out specific memories of places, keepsakes, family, smells, childhood homes, the spare room at Grandma’s house.
Use these memories of concrete items and specific events to create a piece that is unique to you and your experience.
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).
Example from another poet Kimberly Zook using the same form:
I am from soccer cleats,
from Cadmium Red fumes and diary keys.
I am from the suburban sprawl over pockets of Midwest corn.
(Row after row, by default.)
I am from the abandoned lot of Fescue grass, the maple red-bronze and gold-green,
that melted in between wax paper and Crayola shavings
under my mother's iron.
I am from birthday breakfast in bed and Thunder Thighs,
from 50 Mauck Lane and south side Chicago.
I am from the story tellers and poets, from survivors who eat table crumbs after meals and
Christmas money envelopes on the tree, from the gift to enjoy childhood and no college loans.
I'm from Crying Doesn't Help and You're Not Average.
I am from Baptist and Republican,
from Catholic and Democrat.
I'm from the space of seeking a belief, the yearning to know the truth.
I’m from Midwest statelines, apple crunch and Fresh Bread Tonight,
from the yard Grandma B. set on fire to the departing pulse of helicopter blades over my father in Vietnam fields.
I am from sheltered closets and superficial hallways,
scratching to escape and find a corner in the world where I belonged,
only to discover after roaming the world
my corner is home.