I Am From...

I'm in the middle of teaching my students a Poetry Unit...not because it's in the curriculum, but because I think it's important to show kids the power of words. Plus, I'm the "literary type". I LOVE this abstract stuff. Anyway, one particular poem I assigned produced stunning pieces of work. I decided to write my own, and even make Jack write one, too. It's a poem designed to tell about family roots. Writing this made me miss my grandparents so much it hurt. Since this blog doubles as my journal to Jack and Lily, I'm including our poems here. It's crucial to me that my children know where they are from, which means they need to know where we are from first. Here goes...

Mommy

I am from the ever swinging dutch door,

From treats in the cookie jar and an embracing brown blanket.

I am from the white cape cod nestled in the middle of a winding street.

I am from the summer drenched tomato plants

And the late-blooming elm tree protecting us with its shade.

I'm from 24-hour drives to Ft. Myers Beach and having a good appetite,

From Ted & Ann and Kermit & Betty.

I'm from talking loud and needing my morning coffee

and from baking desserts out of kindness and generosity.

I'm from "I Love You" and "Go to Sleep!"

and "Oops, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny."

I'm from apple-picking with a thermos full of chili.

I'm from Oak Lawn and Italy

from homemade spaghetti noodles and pink and green meltaway cookies.

From Uncle Ted bringing down the side of a kiddie pool,

and Marsha drinking Mike's beer.

From black and white wedding photos

decorating the blue living room wall

and endless video clips beating to the strum of my heart.

Daddy

I am from the LCD t.v.,

from the computer and my freshly built garage.

I am from the white cape cod comfortable in every way.

I am from the green, green grass,

and the willow whose weeping branches I used to swing on.

I'm from Minnesota summers and blushed red cheeks,

From Sue & Ken.

I'm from water-skiing and snowmobiling

and from getting together with the clan.

I'm from "Count to 60 sixty times" and "I said 3 fingers!"

and from "Hi ho rippy doodle ding dang."

I'm from summertime family reunions and Monday night tea parties.

I 'm from Joliet and Germany and Ireland.

homemade bread and Grandma's fried chicken.

From Brenden running around the house in nothing but red socks

because E = mc squared means what?

From the painting of Grandpa Jack

above the fireplace

where I warm my wintered hands.