Way back when I first became a contributor to this excellent site, the first post suggestion was to do something biographical. Talk about who I am. Of course, I didn”t do this, not in any formal sense. I struggled with how to capture who I am and what I”m about in 400-700 words.
Then I came across this writing prompt, and as any good prompt does, it got the creative juices flowing. Now, after many hours spent staring into the distance and thinking, I have a poem to share that describes where I come from, which is a huge part of who I am.
So here goes:
I am from Girl Scout badges, sewn on by hand, from Original Tide powder, and washing dishes up to my elbows in suds.
I am from the well-loved, the hand-me-down, the every room has a story to tell.
I am from the green grass, wet under my bare feet, the million fireflies on a cool, June night.
I am from the Christmas morning mad-dash, and silent embraces speaking volumes, from Clark and Charles, from Ruth and Sarah.
I am from the keep it to yourself and give until it hurts.
From your mother will always be with you, and never give less than your best.
I am from the body, the blood, nbso online casino reviews the soul, the divinity. From O come, O come, Emmanuel and Behold the wood of the Cross. From fiat, everyday fiat and grace like rain. From the One who says, “Behold I make all things new.”
I”m from down the shore, the Garden State, the Electric City, from sun-soaked Palermo and the Trail of Tears; from pasta sauce, always homemade and a recipe for stuffing carried across the ocean in Rose”s breast pocket.
From the time she threw his ring in the grass and said, “never again”, the strongest women I ever knew, and the redemption of a mother”s suffering offered freely.
I am from albums stacked high on dusty closet shelves, a mantle covered in years of smiles, from two yellowing letters (she made her e”s like mine), reaching across time to carry me home.
Where are you from?
h/t to Dwija
6 thoughts on “From Ruth and Sarah”
I love this! I loved Dwija’s, too. methinks it’s time to sit down with this exercise, too. 🙂
I’m so glad you did this! I wish I could do and read a hundred, that’s how much I loved it. And love them. Just Beautiful.
I wrote a poem like this in the 8th grade!- it’s a good format. Nice job!
Beautiful!
Wow!!! You are a writer. One job of a writer is to prompt the reader to think. And so I think, what would I write if were to do a poem telling where I come from. I know I won’t take the time to write it. But you have at least made me think. And that is what good writing does. Thank you for writing.
I love this! I’m doing it tonight!