Where I'm From

---

I was in this amazing seminar today called Who Etched on Your Sketch. The speaker gave us a copy of a poem by George Ella Lyons called "Where I'm From" and challenged us to write our own version. I just felt like sharing what I wrote. Kind of seeing if I had the balls to put it out there. I'm also wondering what others might have written.Where I'm FromI am from Vitis and Alberta and the whole damned family.I am from countless aunts and uncles and forty-five first cousins.I am from banana pudding and chocolate gravy and who makes the best potato salad.I am from Bible school at Lickspring Separate Baptist Church with Kool-Aid and flannel boards and the books of the Bible written on construction paper fingersI am from "stop arguing" and "let's not talk about that" and "don't touch yourself there".I am from "more Bible and less Bobsy Twins".I am from bullying and "you must be a girl".I am from too tall, too thin, too smart, a bookworm.I am from grace and love and security and being tickled on the face by Daddy's whiskers as he carried me to bed.I am from the black hole of insecurity anxiety, and depression.I am from stuck in a rut to rising star to stuck in a rut.I am from a bed of lust, greed, pride and fear.I am from confusion and chaos. That is my home. That is my peace.

Did you follow the Where I'm From template?

I really liked that.

What made you go to the seminar?

Quote: I am from a bed of lustThis was my favorite part. It's very nice damien.

Originally Posted By: bobaliciousDid you follow the Where I'm From template? No. Our instructor, who is actually a friend of the poet, gave us the poem and asked us to do our own thing. Much more free form and less restrictive than the template. Although I was poking around online last night and discovered a lot of people using this poem for similar exercises.  Quote:What made you go to the seminar? My agency made me. It's actually part of the Kentucky School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. I chose this specific seminar because it wasn't specifically about substance abuse, but would be more applicable to what I'm doing.

Its a very interesting poem, it kinda saddens me since I don't have any pleasant feelings towards my own home.

To me, that is part of the point. If you noticed in my poem, not every image was a positive one. But they are all part of who I became and who I am.Or maybe you're thinking too narrowly. Is your childhood just about your home? Or is there more to it.Who etched on your sketch, Bob?

I never had an Etch-a-Sketch... My childhood was, for lack of a better word, boring. I seem to have forgotten most of my life.

I've been trying to find a Spiro-graph.If I can ever find one, I'm gonna buy the puppy.

I think I may have an old Spirograph, it was my sisters.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATRWe-5zCNw

Here ya go.

>>>I never had an Etch-a-Sketch...
My childhood was, for lack of a better word, boring."

I don't think an Etch-a-Sketch would have made that much difference. I don't remember them being the nexus of aw and excitement. I had a hell of lot more fun playing with a stick.

Well those two sentences weren't exactly related.

I know, it just struck me funny and I felt assish.

You ass.

You..... no.. Etch-A-Sketch havin'..... guy.

At least I've got a Spirograph, bitch!

I have a Spirograph and I bet mine's cooler than your. So there.Damien is the Spirograshless bitch.

Lets tease him with our great Spirographs! Mines purple!

So.If I did have one, mine would be bigger than yours.