Where I’m From

I’m from a large family with no shortage of hugs,
         From belly laughs and endless love,
         From play fighting and bedtime stories,
         From my special baby doll and birthday tea parties.
I’m from learning to read and learning to ride a bike,
         From playing house and school,
         From silly jokes that had no point,
         From the worst first day of school.
I’m from weekends at Grandma’s and lazy days sleeping in,
         From moving to Salem at Christmas time, and exciting places
         I’ve been.
         From swimming at Kuttawa and falling in the sinkhole,
         From a small hometown where everybody knows your name.
I’m from “It’ll-doodle” and long late night talks
         From family reunions and lots of older brothers and sisters,
         From birthday celebrations ant Holiday World and rides in the
         Rain,
         From home-made Christmas tree ornaments and caroling in the
         Cold.
I’m from the first day of high school and “deep talks” in PE,
         From “bus football” during the Academic Team and crackers
         Out the window,
         From FBLA camp and sweating in the sun,
         From “Boy, look at that hot paint!” and “The Essence.”
I’m from spending my summer break in Florida during a hurricane,
         From sacapuntas en mi zapato and dear old Isabelle,
         From “Gerbilisms,” “Captain Gravity,” and “Captain Obvious,”
         From “if you’re talking when I’m talking, you are wring” and
         “Grr.”
I am from singing at Murray for twelve hours straight,
From “What have they done?!” to a sarcastic “Oh isn’t this great?”
         From Altoid addictions and “Eat the trail mix!”
         From Creek Day in Bio II and “Hmm, what is this?”
I’m from Rednecks and country music, “The Truth About Men” and
         “Who’s Your Daddy?”
         From David Phelps, the greatest tenor, and the Gaither Vocal
         Band,
         From Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings,
         From Quidditch and elves, and other strange things.
I’m from kindness and generosity and God in my heart,
         From “Keep the horse before the cart,”
From friends and teachers that I hold dear,
         From anxious moments about where to go from here.
I’m from the stars and the stripes, the country of patriotism and
         Loyalty,
         From the land where we fight for what we believe in, for what
         We know is right.
        This is where I’m from.
 

Liahna
Livingston Central High

---