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The “I am From” poem form has been a tried and true form to model with students. A few weeks ago, I pulled it out again in hopes to get my students to write for a hometown poetry contest. It didn’t really work out. But while I wrote with them, I ended up with a version that I liked.
I had to explain “pot liquor” to my students because the alarm bells went off when they heard the word liquor. Isn’t it funny how you can know something so well that you don’t even notice? Pot liquor is the distinctly southern delicacy of the broth from boiling greens. (AI says it is also “potlikker”.) My mother would mix it with corn bread and black-eyed peas and eat it with a spoon from a coffee mug. I never developed much of a taste for pot liquor, but what I wouldn’t give to smell it again.
I am From “The most important aspect of love is not in giving or the receiving: it’s in the being” Ram Dass
I am from a gold pearl ring on my right hand. I am from a grandmother with my name– (Margaret, meaning pearl)
I am from Dot, too, from her laughter at things funny, not funny, from her nimble fingers playing classical piano. From lazy afternoons with a Ding-Dong and a Coke.
I’m from photos by the azalea bushes full pink blossoms rising behind our blonde heads. From pot liquor with black-eyed peas and pecan pie fresh from the oven on Thanksgivings in Morton.
I open my mother’s jewelry box, a calm of pearls and golden beads slip on easily. Margaret Simon, 2025
a lovely poem, Margaret! I remember my son writing a where I’m from poem. I sent it to Highlights and they published it on their kids poetry page. I love southern food and often cook greens with lots of onions and garlic in the pot liquor. It’s so delicious.
Margaret, I love your beautiful tribute poem to your grandmother and mother. When I’ve read and reread your second stanza, I see and hear your mother’s laughter. I see her sitting at a piano and I see you as a young girl sitting with her on the bench. The two of you are singing and smiling at each other. Did you sit and sing with her? Oh, my I forgot about ding dongs! And. I see her holding the long, thin, glass coke bottle. I especially love this line “full pink blossoms rising behind our blonde heads.” You have such a way with words. Excellent ending “a calm of pearls”… Thank you for your inspiration.
Thanks for your sweet comment. Actually my mother taught piano lessons but she could not teach me. She was forever bugging me to practice. We did, however, gather around and sing Christmas carols as a family.
Truly lovely poem, Margaret!! Love learning more about you. Pot liquor is new to me — enjoyed reading about it and your mention of pecan pie (one of my faves!).
Margaret, your I am from poem is beautifully written and adds past memories-“A calm of pearls and golden beads/slip on easily.” I remember as a little looking into my aunt’s jewelry box with beautiful pieces. I think if you use your poem as a mentor text, your students will be inspired to try that poem format. Many thoughts go out to your Mother.
Your poem is wonderfully full of the senses, Margaret. I’ve always wanted to try this form but haven’t. I did have a foreign ESL student write one and ask my opinion on her effort and I was blown away. You’ve tempted me to ask her if I can share it with the group someday in the future. It was beautiful – as is yours. I think I stay away from it because I fear I won’t be able to do it justice!
Margaret, I love the Where I’m From that leans into the Becoming…..the passing of the torch and the jewels from one generation to the next as we become our mothers (they always said that we would….). This is a lovely way to slip into the next phase of life- of honoring a true legacy and carrying it forward.
Margaret, this is beautiful. I got to know your mother more here. I can see why you like this one. I like Pearl at the beginning, your grandmother’s name, and at the end in your mother’s jewelry box, “a calm of pearls”. (My aunt Pearl just died last month. She was 95. Her given name name was Marguerite Pearl.)
I’m inspired to write a new “where I’m from” poem that chronicles my time in Ohio, where I’ve now lived twice as long as my growing up time in Colorado…
Your poem brought back some memories of my own. Once in a while for a special treat, my mother bought a box of Ding-Dongs. She liked Pepsi so that’s what we had. I make potlikker soup (that’s how we’ve always spelled it). We have a bowl with corn bread on the side. I’l have to try combining them with black-eyed peas. It sounds good!
I saw the words “pot liquor” and had to chime in with pride for my rural Southern roots. I know it well, because of my grandmother… who, incidentally, named her baby sister Marguerite Pearl. Such a beautiful poem, Margaret – and lovely legacy. I love I Am From poems.
[…] week, another participant from our Poetry Friday group, Margaret Simon, offered her I Am From poem. She works with TAG students, something I did as well – although […]
[…] Today’s #VerseLove prompt is from Stacey Joy. She brought back once again the faithful form Where I’m From, originally from George Ella Lyon. Like Stacey, I’ve written many iterations of this poem over the years. A recent one that I actually liked, I posted here. […]
Margaret Simon lives on the Bayou Teche in New Iberia, Louisiana. She teaches gifted elementary students, writes poetry and children's books. Welcome to a space of peace, poetry, and personal reflection. Walk in kindness.
Reflections on the Teche 
Gorgeous poem, Margaret. I love the focus on the pearls and jewelry. Lovely tribute too!
Lovely Margaret, delicious sensory flavors of “I am from, “ thanks!
a lovely poem, Margaret! I remember my son writing a where I’m from poem. I sent it to Highlights and they published it on their kids poetry page. I love southern food and often cook greens with lots of onions and garlic in the pot liquor. It’s so delicious.
How fun that your son’s poem was published!
Margaret, I love your beautiful tribute poem to your grandmother and mother. When I’ve read and reread your second stanza, I see and hear your mother’s laughter. I see her sitting at a piano and I see you as a young girl sitting with her on the bench. The two of you are singing and smiling at each other. Did you sit and sing with her? Oh, my I forgot about ding dongs! And. I see her holding the long, thin, glass coke bottle. I especially love this line “full pink blossoms rising behind our blonde heads.” You have such a way with words. Excellent ending “a calm of pearls”… Thank you for your inspiration.
Thanks for your sweet comment. Actually my mother taught piano lessons but she could not teach me. She was forever bugging me to practice. We did, however, gather around and sing Christmas carols as a family.
I love the smells and tastes in your poem, Margaret. And the ending with the jewelry box is beautiful.
This is so lovely and specific, and I see you right there, Margaret. ❤
Truly lovely poem, Margaret!! Love learning more about you. Pot liquor is new to me — enjoyed reading about it and your mention of pecan pie (one of my faves!).
Margaret, your I am from poem is beautifully written and adds past memories-“A calm of pearls and golden beads/slip on easily.” I remember as a little looking into my aunt’s jewelry box with beautiful pieces. I think if you use your poem as a mentor text, your students will be inspired to try that poem format. Many thoughts go out to your Mother.
Such a beautiful poem, Margaret, and an inspiration to try the form, which I’m going to try today.
Your poem is wonderfully full of the senses, Margaret. I’ve always wanted to try this form but haven’t. I did have a foreign ESL student write one and ask my opinion on her effort and I was blown away. You’ve tempted me to ask her if I can share it with the group someday in the future. It was beautiful – as is yours. I think I stay away from it because I fear I won’t be able to do it justice!
Margaret, I love the Where I’m From that leans into the Becoming…..the passing of the torch and the jewels from one generation to the next as we become our mothers (they always said that we would….). This is a lovely way to slip into the next phase of life- of honoring a true legacy and carrying it forward.
Margaret, this is beautiful. I got to know your mother more here. I can see why you like this one. I like Pearl at the beginning, your grandmother’s name, and at the end in your mother’s jewelry box, “a calm of pearls”. (My aunt Pearl just died last month. She was 95. Her given name name was Marguerite Pearl.)
No one uses the name Pearl much anymore. I’m glad my poem brought you to memories of your own Aunt Pearl.
When I taught 4th grade, this was the first poem we did each year. Such a favorite. I love those lazy afternoons with a Ding-Dong and Coke. 🙂
I’m inspired to write a new “where I’m from” poem that chronicles my time in Ohio, where I’ve now lived twice as long as my growing up time in Colorado…
Your poem brought back some memories of my own. Once in a while for a special treat, my mother bought a box of Ding-Dongs. She liked Pepsi so that’s what we had. I make potlikker soup (that’s how we’ve always spelled it). We have a bowl with corn bread on the side. I’l have to try combining them with black-eyed peas. It sounds good!
I saw the words “pot liquor” and had to chime in with pride for my rural Southern roots. I know it well, because of my grandmother… who, incidentally, named her baby sister Marguerite Pearl. Such a beautiful poem, Margaret – and lovely legacy. I love I Am From poems.
Oh, Margaret, this is truly beautiful and so touching. ❤️
[…] week, another participant from our Poetry Friday group, Margaret Simon, offered her I Am From poem. She works with TAG students, something I did as well – although […]
[…] Today’s #VerseLove prompt is from Stacey Joy. She brought back once again the faithful form Where I’m From, originally from George Ella Lyon. Like Stacey, I’ve written many iterations of this poem over the years. A recent one that I actually liked, I posted here. […]