Where I'm From - poem meme
Jul. 11th, 2016 06:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ng_moonmothFrom ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wildrose via belenen: a template for writing a poem. If you'd like to do one, too, check out the template.
I am from kitchen ranges and cooking utensils,
from Apple computers and Trek bicycles.
I am from an unstable, constantly renewing nexus, crackling with energy released as the future is created.
I am from the Norway pines, dandelions, midsummer thunderstorms and midwinter blizzards,
the redwoods dripping moisture drawn from the overnight fog, the apple and orange blossoms, the bees and hummingbirds that visit them.
I am from summer weeks by northern lakes
and heading out to see for oneself what lies beyond the horizon,
from Margaret and Bret and Steve.
I am from the parents who wanted what they believed was the best for their children, and children who charted their own path and found they still had a place to return to.
From "You have God-given gifts. Use them wisely." and "Boys don't do that."
I am from "The heavens proclaim the glory of God", but have moved on to realizing that the universe proclaims its own glory and has no need of agency.
I'm from Germany via Wisconsin, and the South via Chicago,
from a holiday turkey roasting on the barbecue grill and kitchen produce fresh from the yard.
From the brother who lifted up the goat's tail to find out where the little rocks were coming from,
all of us as children, gathering in our PJs at the top of the stairs Christmas morning, eagerly anticipating what Santa had brought.
I am from cross-country trips and holiday gatherings,
from art works that bring to mind the places they were acquired,
from a package of clothing, letters and stories defining my childhood, lovingly preserved for me --
I understand where I am from, and I am still heading Out.
The "Where I'm From" Template
I am from (specific ordinary item)___________________________,
from (two product names)________________________ and________________________.
I am from the ____________________ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the ____________________________(plant, flower, natural item),
the _______________________________________(plant, flower, natural detail).
I am from ______________________________(family tradition)
and ____________________________________(family trait),
from _________________(name of family member) and ______________ (another family name)
and ______________________(family name).
I am from the ____________________________ (description of family tendency) and _______________________ (another one).
From ______________________________ (something you were told as a child) and ______________________ (another).
I am from ___________________. (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from ____________________________ (place of birth and family ancestry), from
___________________ and ____________________ (two food items representing your family).
From the ___________________ (specific family story about a specific person and detail),
the________________________(another detail about another family member).
I am from ______________.(location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
wildrose via belenen: a template for writing a poem. If you'd like to do one, too, check out the template.I am from kitchen ranges and cooking utensils,
from Apple computers and Trek bicycles.
I am from an unstable, constantly renewing nexus, crackling with energy released as the future is created.
I am from the Norway pines, dandelions, midsummer thunderstorms and midwinter blizzards,
the redwoods dripping moisture drawn from the overnight fog, the apple and orange blossoms, the bees and hummingbirds that visit them.
I am from summer weeks by northern lakes
and heading out to see for oneself what lies beyond the horizon,
from Margaret and Bret and Steve.
I am from the parents who wanted what they believed was the best for their children, and children who charted their own path and found they still had a place to return to.
From "You have God-given gifts. Use them wisely." and "Boys don't do that."
I am from "The heavens proclaim the glory of God", but have moved on to realizing that the universe proclaims its own glory and has no need of agency.
I'm from Germany via Wisconsin, and the South via Chicago,
from a holiday turkey roasting on the barbecue grill and kitchen produce fresh from the yard.
From the brother who lifted up the goat's tail to find out where the little rocks were coming from,
all of us as children, gathering in our PJs at the top of the stairs Christmas morning, eagerly anticipating what Santa had brought.
I am from cross-country trips and holiday gatherings,
from art works that bring to mind the places they were acquired,
from a package of clothing, letters and stories defining my childhood, lovingly preserved for me --
I understand where I am from, and I am still heading Out.
The "Where I'm From" Template
I am from (specific ordinary item)___________________________,
from (two product names)________________________ and________________________.
I am from the ____________________ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the ____________________________(plant, flower, natural item),
the _______________________________________(plant, flower, natural detail).
I am from ______________________________(family tradition)
and ____________________________________(family trait),
from _________________(name of family member) and ______________ (another family name)
and ______________________(family name).
I am from the ____________________________ (description of family tendency) and _______________________ (another one).
From ______________________________ (something you were told as a child) and ______________________ (another).
I am from ___________________. (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I'm from ____________________________ (place of birth and family ancestry), from
___________________ and ____________________ (two food items representing your family).
From the ___________________ (specific family story about a specific person and detail),
the________________________(another detail about another family member).
I am from ______________.(location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
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no subject
Date: 2016-07-15 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-09 10:21 pm (UTC)Also *Grins down at the Mac I'm typing this on* Wooo Apple computers. Our school had those back in the very early nineties, and they were so old they still ran on Dos. Fun times.
-Carmen
no subject
Date: 2017-02-10 04:17 am (UTC)Would you please comment here with links to any poems you write to this form? Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2017-02-10 04:28 am (UTC)-An
PS: If you like, we could start trying to send you a PM every time any of us writes something. That way you can see it. Most of us are of the opinion that literary works should be shared.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-10 05:12 am (UTC)-An <<
Great! Looking forward to the results.
>> If you like, we could start trying to send you a PM every time any of us writes something. That way you can see it. Most of us are of the opinion that literary works should be shared. <<
I'd enjoy being an audience for y'all. All forms of creation are more fun when you know someone is observing and appreciating them. Do what you can on that, and don't fret if you miss PMing me now and again.
And, from your previous comment:
>> Also *Grins down at the Mac I'm typing this on* Wooo Apple computers. Our school had those back in the very early nineties, and they were so old they still ran on Dos. Fun times. <<
In the very early nineties, I was a rapidly advancing techie in Silicon Valley, the heart of the industry, making my living programming Macs.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-11 09:20 am (UTC)While there are a few gendered references in the song that your post brought to mind, most of it is in the first person and thus not gender-dependent. I hope that something in the lyrics of "My Story Is Not Done", even if only in the chorus thereof, will speak to you.
no subject
Date: 2017-04-11 05:46 pm (UTC)I'm not sure it would have even come to my attention there. Unless comment notifications are still being sent to my email, I wouldn't have seen it. I don't even visit over there now, due to issues with foreign terms of service and host country's foaming-at-the-mouth rage at gender variance and gender-variant people. I'm about *this* close to nuking, paving, and pulling out.
>> I hope that something in the lyrics of "My Story Is Not Done", even if only in the chorus thereof, will speak to you. <<
Yeah, I've heard Seanan do this in concert, and have her CD with it on it. I definitely enjoy the song.
As far as speaking to me, which I hadn't consciously done until your comment: Yes, my story is not done, and won't be as long as I'm alive. To quote something you had a hand in, "But I haven't finished writing."
"Taken chances not worth chancing": I suspect I need to take a few more of those.
The last two paragraphs on Seanan's lyrics page are very apt. It's *my* story, and even though a lot of people may well be uncomfortable with the next few chapters, they are mine to write, and I need to write them. I hope things will work out well as the story progresses. While it may not be that "the last must be the best", I am now of the mind that it's probably going to be lots better than where I am now. And whether I think it was a good story is up to me, not anyone else.
Thanks for spurring this.
we are who we are
Date: 2017-04-11 06:23 pm (UTC)You are welcome! Btw, the subject-line quote is from the title track of Vixy and Tony's recently released CD.
> next few chapters, they are mine to write, and I need to write them.
Exactly! Whatever parts of said chapters that you choose to make public, I will read with keen interest.
> it's probably going to be lots better than where I am now
I truly hope so, for your sake. *hugs offered*
> whether I think it was a good story is up to me, not anyone else.
Well reasoned. :-)
Re: we are who we are
Date: 2017-04-12 05:35 am (UTC)Also in my possession. They're always worth listening to.
>> Whatever parts of said chapters that you choose to make public, I will read with keen interest. <<
They will show up here. Part of my transition in progress involves becoming more transparent, against a background of keeping things very much to myself. And that's a big part of why this journal exists.
>> *hugs offered* <<
*hugs back*