In Allison Vesterfelt‘s talk on Tribe Writers, she goes back to the basics with telling her audience of writers to reflect on where they came from to get in touch with their true voice. So often we write to build a platform or to make money or for an editor. But when can we say the last time we just simply wrote from where we are and what we came from? Here’s an exercise she lead the group through that I tried out– it’s call an I Am From poem.
Here’s mine:
I am from cross stitched samplers and bubbling fish tanks
From ez mac after school and silver bear banks
I am from noisy heaters that pop and snap
From advent wreathes and windows with plastic wrap
I am from Dave Matthews and the Goo Goo Dolls
From disney store window shopping and senciled on walls
I am from nutcracker “guys” and Tom Chapin tapes
From homemade costumes and hand-sewn little red capes
I am from songs to wake me up and songs when mom gets home
From the blues in dad’s garage, from french braids and a fine tooth comb
I am from out of tune grand pianos and starburst jelly beans
From pop up trundle beds and oyster stuffing
I am from playing “catch”–
a play fighting game that often ended in tears
I am from softball and track, and running races over these past 20 years
I am from all of these things and so much more
And I am glad of where I came from and glad for what’s in store
