I Gave it a Shot

While stopping by Sleeping Mommy's blog today, I found this challenge. And it was definitely a challenge for me. It originally came from here, so if you are interested in giving this a try, go for it. Let me know if you did any better than I did.

I think part of the problem (other than the fact that I suck at poetry) was that I don't have a deep, storied family history. We were and still are pretty much just average people, doing normal everyday things, living regular lives. But overall, we're strong and funny and pretty happy, so we're doing something right. Here it goes:


Where I'm From
I am from clocks stuck at 3 a.m., from Entenmann’s and fancy franks.

I am from the mustard house, from porcelain eggs and an old front porch full of sun. From the big corner yard with the rusted swing set and the protective dog, from the off-kilter garage and the big green bush filled with little squishy red berries and nests of robin redbreasts.

I am from the crocuses peeking out of the snow, the weeping willow bending with her buds, the dandelions pretending to be flowers.

I am from Chambeawood and stuck-out ribs, from Edward Francis and Katherine and Baba.

I am from sarcastic humor and large appetites. I am from 10-pound babies and hand-knit sweaters and candy dishes that are never empty.

From stubbornness and hardheadedness, and stubborn, hardheaded grudges.

I am from Catholics who poured water on marching Protestants in Ireland and refused to plant orange flowers in gardens.

I'm from Jersey and Scotland, from bronto burgers and surprise burgers.

From the men who always "did the best that they could do", the immigrants without money but with a strong will and desire for a better life, and the wives who didn’t know their husband’s real first names.

I am from a box of dusty old photos hidden inside an end table but not hidden from my mind. From framed recollections lining a radiator cover, sparkling in their silver and brass dressings. From scrapbooks decorated festively to celebrate all the memories they hold.

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Well there it is. And I "did the best that I could do."