I am from my grandparent’s house

Sunday roasts with carrots and potatoes

brown beans and cornbread a fixture at every meal

bottled pop—Coke, Tab, and RC Cola

drinking from glasses that came from

washing powder boxes.

I am from long summer days

mosquito bites, too many to count

pink skin from calamine lotion

a squirt of Bactine on skinned knees

waiting until 4 o’clock to turn

on the radio—hoping Mimi

would dedicate a song to me.

I am from prime time television

with my Mimi—eating popcorn

every night.

Heehaw, All in the Family, too many

sitcoms to mention

no one sits in papaw’s char

until he goes to bed—around 8 o’clock

we could stay up as long as

we didn’t laugh too loud.

You want to know where I am from?

I’ll tell you I’m from creeks and hollers

and good people.  I am from dressing

up for church and Sunday dinners

with extended family and friends.

I’ll tell you I’m from Willow

Tree switches you pick out for yourself.

I come from the heart when I say I

am proud to be a coal miner’s daughter.

I’m from fresh laundry during on the

line and everyone sharing the chores.

I’ll tell you brownies, girl scouts, and

softball.  I’m from mom being my

worst enemy and best friend.  From

the bossy but ever loving

big sister to being the sister who looks

to two younger brothers for comfort and assurances.

You want to know where I’m from?
My answer seems an endless

journey of words and memories.  I’m from

a happy childhood with an over abundance

of love from a tight knit family.

That is where I’m from.

I’m from what remains of an exploding star,

Tempered by time—

I’m from a new formed planet,

Tempered by time—

I’m from the first two humans of the human race,

Tempered by time—

I’m from many people who founded America,

Tempered by time—

I’m a new beginning born in West Virginia,

But tempered by time—

Soon I’ll be in a place where God want me—

Where there is no time.

I am from a family of five.  where I came from we eat supper at the kitchen table every evening before my dad went to work in the coalmines.  I am from a Mother who was a stay at home mom and she was the best.

Where I came from families stayed together and prayed together.  Where I came from we could go outside and play all day with my cousins and not come in until the Dukes of Hazard came on one of the three channels that we got from an antenna at the edge of the yard.

Where I came from having fun was when we rode our four-wheelers with all of my family

You want to know where I am from?
I’ll tell you I’m from creeks and hollers

and good people.  I am from dressing

up for church and Sunday dinners

with extended family and friends.

I’ll tell you I am from Willow

tree switches you pick for yourself.

I come from the heart when I say I

am proud to be a coal miner’s daughter.

I’m from fresh laundry drying on the

line and everyone sharing the chores.

I’ll tell you I’m from brownies, girl scouts and

softball.  I’m from mom being my

worst enemy and best friend From

being the bossy but ever loving

big sister to being the sister who looks

to two younger brothers for comfort and assurances.

You want to know where I’m from?

My answer seems an endless

journey of words and memories.  I’m from

a happy childhood with an overabundance

of love from a tight knit family.

That is where I’m from.

I am from tire swings and tickles

from laughter and love

I am from homemade applesauce

lip puckering as it was

I am from warm baths and bedtime stories

every night before I sleep

I am from church on Sunday

from “hush” and “sit still”

I am from bedtime prayers and baby dolls

and sometimes GI Joe

I am from teasing brothers and cousins

fun in every way.

I am from Christmas Church plays

and Cotton Tails and ears, crawling on the floor to say “bah”.

I am from helping those in need

sometimes giving my own clothes to those who have none

I am from Daddy in the pulpit, Mommy in the pew

that look from him would stop you in the tracks

I am from vacations with pools and palm trees

Grandpa and Grandma Reed always having fun

I am from weekends in Parkersburg with family

Grandma Noland’s house full

I am from friendship, love, and laughter

warmth from others and the sun