Where I'm From

Where I’m From #20 By Aly Leavitt Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from diet coke bottles hidden in the closet From powdered hostess donuts and the big shop truck that drove us to get both from 7-11 after Saturday morning chores. I am from the tallest house on the block with the colorful walls and the furniture that never stayed in the same spot for too long, because you can rearrange your furnit...

 Where I’m From #19 By Erik Sandstrom Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from the toy bins at the Ben Franklin Five and Dime From a Mattel Fanner 50 and a tube of Testor’s glue I am from a tiny bedroom, walls papered with photos from the pages of Car Craft and Hot Rod magazine Safe, embracing - leaves from the backyard oak brush against my window screen I am from the onions rotting in Sakata’s fiel...

Where I’m From #18 By Emily Withnall Originally published in High Desert Journal   Inspired by George Ella Lyon Claret cup cacti announce themselves in everything I write. This surprised me at first, but it shouldn’t have. I’ve been pierced more than once by their spines. When in bloom, tiny vermillion bouquets dot the dry ground. They are everything I aspire to be. Papa bartended at Sipapu ski lo...

Where I’m From #17 By Peg Conway Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from cartoons on Saturday morning, from Oreos dipped in milk and Campbell’s chicken noodle soup heated in the copper-bottomed pot then slurped from the spoon.   I am from the house with brown pillars that reach for the sky. From the weeping willow tree whose branches, like feathers, dangle to the ground, from the ever-present absen...

Where I’m From #16 By Vanessa King Inspired George Ella Lyon I am from chlorine. From Speedo and Tyr. I am from the stuccoed ranch on Estero and the poorly-placed box past the gate, too-green grass, parchment skies, the blast of an oven every time you open the front door. But, hey, it’s a dry heat. I’m from manicured palms and white-trunked orange, humming with bees my brother was desperate to avo...

Where I’m From #15 By Lucie Frost Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from TV dinners, on my dad’s side. From Swanson’s Chicken Pot Pie and Morton’s Turkey Dinner. On my mother’s, from “health food.” Homemade yogurt, always plain, and pressure-cooked artichokes. I am from San Antonio summers. A one-story ranch wrapped around the swimming pool, decorator-styled, full of liquor, electronics, and stepm...

Where I’m From #14 By Alyson Shelton  Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from bathing suits, From Ragu and Chanel No. 5. I am from sandy feet. (Gritty, crunchy on the floor and in my mouth, Proof of daily joys.) I am from kelp, wrapped around my ankles, scaring friends, but never me. I’m from a lead foot on the accelerator and making family jokes out of fresh wounds,  the ones that still ache with...

Where I’m From #13 By Ann Kathryn Kelly Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from an Irish Clan’s love, strong as bedrock, deep as ocean, the baby in the family almost taken, decades after baby fat grew lean. (A bleeding brain tumor, caught before bedrock could crumble.) I am from a surgeon’s scalpel, my Superman in a cape of blue scrubs, who outran, outflew, outwitted red kryptonite inside me. I am...

 Where I’m From #12 By Stacy Mendell Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from the purple banana seat bike, from slip-on Keds and double knit dresses, from Piggly Wiggly and S&H Green Stamps. I am from the 3rd house down on Redbud Drive, the one with two pine trees shading the drive way, (Collected as saplings, tended in coffee cans, eternally scented with Folgers). I am from the plump stand...

 Where I’m From #11 By Meg Nocero Inspired by George Ella Lyon The Italian-American Dreamer – to be seen and appreciated for our culture’s contributions The story of my family explored and written about after spending hours in a closet with precious memories and photos Cherishing the stories of those pioneers who came before me, celebrating our roots and adding on to legacy. I Am From Poem I am fr...

Where I’m From #10 By Elizabeth Heise Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from tumbleweeds From brewer’s yeast and goldenseal I am from a little white house on Quiet Lane, peeling stucco, a deep blue sky, the heavy scent of sage I am from red chile growing wild behind Ramona’s house don't rub your eyes or you’ll be sorry I’m from living with want and joking about the worst of it I’m from Mic...

Where I’m From #9 By Giselle Interiano Inspired by Geroge Ella Lyon I am from recycled food containers with leftovers instead of yogurt.  From watered down dish soap and Vicks.  I am from mold seeping through the bedroom walls, moist, cold, I CAN’T STOP SNEEZING.  I am from avocado trees with brittle branches and ripe avocados I pick for lunch.  I am from winter’s at 20218 Steinway’s cul de sac, f...

Where I’m From #8 By Emily Brisse Inspired by George Ella Lyon I’m from backyard vegetable gardens, from the rhubarb in spring to tomatoes in fall, from cold cans of Pepsi and red licorice twists, the long hollow candy doubling as a straw. I’m from kid-marked lawns  of crab grass and dirt patches,  spikey and flour-dry, from the trees we played beneath– those two giant pines– and the birches we pe...

 Where I’m From #7 By Alexis Donkin Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from freshly inked paper From acrylic coated canvas and natural bristle brushes, Lowden guitars and Audix microphones. I am from skylights flooding into stained glass Dappling floors and walls with manipulated light, refined and separated, only to pool onto quilts in chaos. I am from rotting leaves Mingled with slender needles R...

 Where I’m From #6 By Tiffany Babb Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from coffee grounds From cheap maple syrup and Lipton tea bags I am from the place where spiders hide chaotic, loud-- where are you? I am from dandelion blossoms Heavy with pollen and waiting to travel I'm from celery and onions  chopped so fine they're transparent,  From Eloisa and Chuyi I'm from laughing too loud and loving too...

Where I’m From #5 By Aimee Seiff Christian Inspired by George Ella Lyon I believed I was from nowhere. I knew I had to be from somewhere Yet I didn’t believe that until I had proof because I didn’t know you could be from nowhere and somewhere at the same time I am also of somewhere. Someone. I am from subways and sidewalks From the city that never sleeps. Gritty, overcrowded, noisy And wonderful....

Where I’m From #4 By Judith van Praag Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from one knife cuts all, Red leather sheath protecting blade and fingers From Sunlight soap, Potassium Permanganate and Vim. I am from “met de Franse slag,” clean enough for the eye, Artistic, Bohemian, a raven’s nest. I am from reading under the elms Dandelion stains, daisy chains and horse manure (earthy, solid, fertilizing)...

 Where I’m From #3 By Kelly Burch Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from books From cardboard boxes of them, piled in the attic and garage I am from the hedges Wild, unruly, sheltering kids and wasps I am from a towering pine tree, Rope swing whipping through the air, kids screeching with joy, or terror I’m from impulses and big dreams From William and Walter I’m from insistent opinions and passio...

Where I’m From #2 By Angelique Gagnon Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from sheet music, From bacon grease saved in glass jars and Land-O-Lakes butter. I am from the brown Victorian house that by outward appearance never reached its full potential, (2-story, kept at 65 degrees, in the sub-zero winter.) I am from the Lily of the Valley, delicate, late birthday gift of Spring, whose aroma I secretl...

Where I’m From #1  By Mesa Fama Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from ink and paper, From Folgers coffee and Coffeemate vanilla creamer. I am from the clover patch next to the concrete driveway. (Dewy, earthy, a soft spot in the hard grass.) I am from the oak trees Whose surety in trunk and steadfastness in roots lined the road and guided me to  my mother when my aunt was lost and couldn’t rememb...

Where I’m From poems inspired by George Ella Lyon featuring all kinds of phenomenal writers, hosted by Alyson Shelton. Episode one arriving August 19th.