a poem of my own

I read a poem like this one on a favorite blog where the author even provided a template for creating your own. The writer in me could not resist. Here's a peek into who I am and where I'm from.

I Am From…

Inspired by “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

I am from well-used furniture, passed down from earlier generations,

from books on every shelf, blankets piled high and photos abounding on the wall.

I am from a multi-family home in a small town,

set not so far away from one of the greatest cities in the world,

a home where scented candles burn routinely and the love of family is felt throughout.

I am from the moss that grows between cracks in the driveway,

the large maple tree that blooms beautifully just outside the kitchen windows in spring.

I’m from clean rooms and weekly family dinners,

from parents whose love continues to grow

and “little” brothers who make me proud, and stand so tall.

I’m from hard workers and church-goers,

and from those who gather around the table.

I’m from “keep doing your best” and “remember your manners,”

and “I love you this much.”

I’m from sharing what we’re thankful for.

I’m from the hospital of a nearby town where all of us were born,

and a large pond where we often gather to enjoy the heat of summer.

I’m from brown and white brownies, and freshly baked banana bread.

From great-grandparents who loved one another since the age of 12,

despite illness, sorrow, and war,

a symbol of their love now in a ring of my own for decades to come,

worn on my left hand at all times to show the world where I am from.