Where I’m From

A Poem by Shelley Harrington, From the template and original poem by George Ella Lyon

I am from God is good.

From potluck dinners and Chinese dumplings.

I am from trains and a treehouse.

From life on the farm, and missionary boarding school, and two young kids at college in Seattle.

I am from Stevie’s death and much sorrow.

I am from seafood chowder and left-over casserole.

From praying, and crying, and Grandma’s hats.

I am from music. Lots and lots, and lots of music.

From playing school, a disappointing prom dress, and a stereo that never was.

I’m from a house on a hill and feeding seagulls French fries.

I am from duck talk and speed card games.

From pictures and storytelling, and talking and laughing until our bellies ached.

I am from soccer and the theater, and the seahawks and the steelers and the oilers.

I’m from country hospital in Taiwan, with a pink bow taped to my head.

From super 8 movies, an annual kickline, croquet, and three bean salad.

I’m from new house slabs, an apple orchard to leave alone, and a honeysuckle bush hideout.

I am from “did you see what they have on the menu?”

From packing, and moving, and being the new girl.

I am from desegregation and ping pong balls.

I’m from homemade pies and turkey and stuffing.

From quiet, lonely Christmas mornings.

From family sing alongs and Silent Night by candlelight.

I am from “That’s an idea!” and “God has a plan!”

I am from love.

***It’s true that my family and I might be the only ones to know what most of these references mean. But it’s the “stuff” that has made me who I am. The good and the bad. I treasure it all. I encourage others to embrace where you’re from. What has given you the gift of knowing what you belong to, and what belongs to you? It’s healing and empowering.