A lovely poem called “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyons has turned into a meme, somewhat. Here are a bunch of different versions at Finding Joy in the Morning. And here is mine:

Where I’m From
with apologies to George Ella Lyons

I am from mountains, from Nintendo and well-worn pages.

I am from the humble home
with the crooked floors and
snakes in the walls.

I am from the dogwood, the ginseng.

I am from laughter and sturdy legs,
from Richard Maurice and Ellen Kaye.

I am from the hot tempers and soft hearts.

From “your brother has the prettiest eyes”
and “you look just like your mama.”

I am from “Lord watch over us and bless us
with health, safety and happiness amen.”

I’m from North Carolina and Michigan
and Belgium and Ireland and England
and cookie pudding and fried taters.

From the finger my grandmother lost,
and sunflowers as high as I could see
and my mother falling through
the Michigan ice.

I am from the old house, a box in the closet,
a thousand faceless names in my
family tree.