For My Mom

Happy Mother's Day.

Where I'm From.

I am from the hand-me-down, green bell bottoms, Sears catalog school shopping and shelves lined with children's books.

I am from the house in the woods , rough hewn, modern, full of windows.

I am from the homegrown tomato, shooting star, granite boulder, the sugar pine tree, monkey flower, lake.

I am from get your hands dirty, creative and not quite graceful, from Anna and Gary and Ruth.

I am from the well read and curious.

From the santa claus, easter bunny, tooth fairy, wizard of oz and from being clever, exceptional, funny and hard to live with.

I am from the understanding that god is everywhere, in everything and everyone. Including you and me and that rock and your cat. From it's your job to be good, and take care of the world you live in. pick up trash and recycle.

I'm from Los Angeles, Ohio, brownies and blackberry jam.

From the Christmas presents that disappear if you look at them too soon and my sister covering her eyes all through breakfast, from the year my other sister spent in Sweden and the long distance call that made her feel even further away: talk- delay -talk -delay.

I am from being on my own at 17 . From a real dad who wasn't really real at all, and a step dad who made up for everything.

I am from the library of congress, blue ribbon quilts, newspaper clippings of theater productions, handmade rag dolls, campfire songs, faded Polaroid pictures, crocheted baby clothes, homemade outfits and pyrex pie plates. These things that are priceless and worth nothing without the history they represent. our history.


This poem was made using this template.

I am using it to say to my mom, I am proud of where I'm from.
I love you, Mom.