credit: ww.painesplough.com
Writer and teacher George Ella Lyon’s Where I’m From poem became the snowball that launched an avalanche of poetic memoirs. Writers of every age have tried their hands at creating their own versions of this autobiographical poem. Here at Eagle Ridge, our own band of young poets has turned out a glorious collection of tenderly crafted poems. Here today, I present a mere morsel of the creativity that poured out of my sixth grade poets. All of these excerpts were drawn from my third block of students. I’ll post stanzas from my other blocks over the coming week. Enjoy every little word.
I am from the bitter taste of the salt water
dripping into my mouth
From the rumble of my stomach
before we sit on the old rusty dock
to eat our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
-Casey E.
I am from the blanket of snow that spreads across my yard
I am from the leaves that zoom across my house
From the dark sky that scares the sun
From the clouds that fly across the sky
–Jasmin H.
I’m from laser tag and paintball
football and biking through the forest
I’m from eating crepes in front of Le Tour Eiffel
from feeding the pigeons gyros in Athens, Greece
–Jenna A.
I’m from the rumble of urethane wheels as they speed across the pavement
to the clang as the trucks hit the rail
From the rolling past a random stranger’s blood
to sharing my own with the concrete
–Major L.
I am from good night kisses to warm hugs
every night before I go to bed
From the rough dad chin rubbing
against my cheek
–Sarah F.
I am from the cold snow and dirt that let me stand
I’m from the cars that passed by and the leaves that crunched
I am from the trees that bloom when I walk by
I’m from the skateboard that brought me home when it was time
–Austin B.
I am from the fireflies that roam the dark sky
in Michigan at Aunt Natalie’s house
from the glazed glass jars we catch them in
to the shiny windows where we let them go
–Morgan C.
