Wednesday, August 14, 2013
I Am From
A poem I worked on about a year ago following the now famous "where I'm from" formula for personal poems. Thought I'd share it.
I AM FROM
by David L. Burton
I AM FROM
by David L. Burton
I am from rugged gardeners and canners,
Frugal land rich, cash poor farmers,
Close-knit Scotch-Irish and British immigrant families
Quiet readers, English teachers, insurance adjusters and auto
mechanics.
I am from the rocky fields and rolling hills of the Ozarks
Shallow clear rivers with Indian names and catfish ponds,
Blonde brick ranch houses, and white clap-board bungalows,
Winding country roads and limestone glades that jut out of fescue
fields
I am from habits formed during the good ole days,
in cramped one-room schools, amid fears of another depression,
in a mostly-white region known for high school sports teams
bluegrass music, thousands of churches and Silver Dollar City.
I am from stubborn, independent, Christian, hardworking good folk
Fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes with white gravy,
apple pie a la mode, black coffee, homegrown mint and
peanut butter chocolate chip cookies made by the knotted hands of
my grandma.
