I Am From

I am from Moon Pies, from fried catfish and butter beans.

I am from the red bricks my father stacked,
straight, warm, strong, in my great grandfather's field.

I am from the sweet gum, jimson, blackberry,
the kudzoo, milkweed, and thick smell of honeysuckle.

I am from cane pole fishing and rifles,
from Dixon and Gully and White.

I am from alchohol and farm labor.

From mind your manners and mind your mama.

I am from the Liberty, Vardamon, DeKalb Baptists.
From hymns and potlucks and caramel cake.

I'm from Mississippi Blackfoot, Navy and Marines.

From the three jobs and five kids, the dirt roads and cemetaries,
the last gray morning and good-bye.

I am from the mirrored pond at sunset,
the woods and barbed-wire fence,
the cricket song ringing in the trees.





Inspired by "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyons
Read other personal adaptations at Faithful Mommy and Sermon on the Mount (of laundry)