Today is my prompt day at Ethical ELA. Please stop by and write an analogy acrostic.
On Sunday, Stefani Boutelier prompted on Ethical ELA a “Where I’m From” poem like the ever popular George Ella Lyon poem. I’ve done this exercise many times over the years and have never been happy with my results. The poem seems over-sentimental. I went ahead and tried again. This time, I’m happier with the poem and even shared it aloud with my sister, brother, and our parents on Easter morning over our FaceTime.
Where I’m From
I am from piano keys and pot roast,
From Charles’ Chips in a can.
I am from the pine forests of Mississippi,
Beechcrest Drive and Purple Creek,
pink azaleas line the red brick house
while a concrete “waterfall” waits
at the edge of the woods.
I am from writing notes,
tucking them into your locker
between classes.
From shade of a sycamore–
broad-leafed Daddy’s pride.
I’m from singing carols around the grand,
a gallery of books climbing high as the ceiling.
From Liles and Gibson trees,
arms of Margaret and Eugene.
I’m from church on Sundays.
From hurricanes and a Pearl River flood.
From pot-liquor
with turnip greens, black-eyed peas, and cornbread.
I’m from war stories, Anglican prayers, and theology
over the dinner table set with woven mats,
pottery, and cotton napkins.
I’m from home movies, reel to reel,
stored in tins
that playback Love within.
(c) Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
What a lovely poem, very evocative.
Margaret, this is beautiful! I tried to write one and found it challenging. I especially love your ending! It brings back memories of my father playing our movies. Thank you for sharing.
I also enjoyed your acrostic poem! Love the prompts from your students. Thank you.
Beautiful! The memories this evokes are tanatalizing
Very nice!!
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Yes, they may be sentimental, but I always love what everyone includes, Margaret. Those final words are so sweet!
This poem touched my heart. I feel like I know you and I recognize common ground. I’m excited to try this for myself. Thank you for sharing!
I remember Charles Chips in a can!! We saved the big can to put our mismatched socks in it (which begs the question of why there should be so many mismatched socks).Your poem is like a song of life and a deep-rooted, sturdy, resilient tree, Margaret, able to endure while casting a wide circle of shade as a respite for others … that is how I see you, too. I am pretty sure I wrote an I Am From poem in recent years. Must dig …
Love this! Some shared experiences (pot roast, singing carols, church on Sunday, black eyed peas and cornbread) and some I don’t recognize (Charles Chips in a can, pine forests). I’ve tried this several times, and never been satisfied. I may have to give it another try. My students were usually very successful with this format.