Wednesday, April 27, 2016

W is for Where I'm From

Where I'm From

I'm from the south face of the mountain, 
from Smith’s Rosebud Salve 
and pines.

From the house that smells faintly of wood
and chimney smoke 
and coffee.

I'm from the dogwood and the rhododendron, 
whose tangled limbs created the perfect summer canopy.

From gifts on Christmas morning 
and steadfast resilience,
from Geneva, Richard, and Keen.

I'm from “eat your vegetables” 
and “you will finish what you start, young lady.”

From Sunday School, 
muddy creek baptisms, 
and singing Pass it On around church camp bonfires.

I'm from the nectar of June honeysuckle and spring peepers, 
whose lullaby echoed through the springtime darkness.

From the New River and deep, cavernous coal mines, 
from autumn apple butter 
and blackberry jelly and wine.

I'm from Nabs and pepperoni rolls, 
from peanuts in my bottle of Coca-Cola.

From windowsills lightly dusted with coal
from oak mantles  
and antique china cabinets.

I'm from the hope and sweat 
of hardscrabble mountain lives
and dark, starry skies.

© 2016 Ericka @ A Quiet Girl's Musings...


This is the twenty-third of twenty-six alphabetized blog entries I am publishing this month as a part of the 2016 Blogging A to Z Challenge.  Many bloggers who participate in this challenge, select a theme.  My theme is - "Whatever I Think Of."  


For more information on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.


11 comments:

  1. I'm from "you like what I like, no eat it," and
    "why don't you try using your head from something other than a hat rack?"

    I really loved this. The words evoked strong images. That last stanza was particularly great. Excellent.

    In other news, I know you can think of a song with Want in the title. Don't give up! If you're absolutely desperate, and no one's used this, you can have it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqEUnvR1mWo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I appreciate your kind words. Writing poetry is really outside of my comfort zone, but I have tried to embrace it during this challenge Poetry is a good alternative when the post I'm working on starts to run amuck and turns into a beast that I cannot tame.

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  2. Ignore the last half of my comment. I see you did post a song. I think I'm losing it. May can't get here fast enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! No problem! I agree with you about May not getting here fast enough. These last letter prompts are beasts and I'm running on fumes! Yes, all of the first 3 songs that came to mind were taken before I was able to post.

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  3. You need to frame this and give it to your parents! Wonderful!!!

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  4. Ericka, this is absolutely lovely!!! I really enjoyed getting to know you. What a unique way to present yourself. Love it!! Very creative too.
    Hey, nice to meet you!!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  5. I truly love this. I did it a while back after seeing it on my friend Sarah's blog (no longer blogging). It's poetic and the snippets are what really make us as people so I really enjoy reading stuff like this.

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  6. This is fab! Sounds like a wonderful way to grow up, and such a pretty place too. Great imagery!!! #mg thanks for linking up lovely xx

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