I am From
~Poem by Shelley Gorin~

I am from The White Store and Tom Sierra,
the post office and the fire station.
And that’s all… where I am from.
I am from green beans and tomatoes
and corn that wouldn’t grow.
Old broken down cars, stray cats for pets,
and foxes eating our geese and chickens.

I am from clean clothes on the couch,
dirty ones on the floor,
hot lunches and Latchkey after school.
I am from TO-GO Chinese and Costco pizza,
weeding the garden, stacking books at Mom's work,
and picking her flowers just to sell them back to her.

I am from Thanksgiving at Grandpa’s,
Mom cooking in his hand lit stove,
Stacy and I making table decorations
While sneaking an olive for each finger
before dinner is served.
I am two Christmas trees and presents galore
And “We’re off like a herd of turtles” on summer vacation.

I am from Grandpa’s 20 dollars, a smile,
and an “I’ll be” when he finds out we got straight A’s.
And from Uncle Bill’s incomprehensible birthday poems.
I am from Granny and Papa
Screaming across the house at each other,
While Mom and Dad kissed and hugged in the kitchen.

I will always be with my sister,
even when distance separates us.
My loved ones are where I am from,
And those I love will always be in me.