I am from deep green carpet like jungle treetops.
From bushel baskets of tomatoes and the Foley food mill.
From Saturday morning piano lessons, cream-filled cupcakes and cold chocolate milk
From Chinese Checkers, Old Maids, and The Three Little Kittens.
I am from the little white ranch house. From one bathroom for six people. From stories around the dinner table made of a wire spool top and sewing machine treadle.
From lush houseplants and warm light of candles.
I am from the fence row, the milkweed, the wild violet carpet and the cool green woods,
The porches on high treehouses in nail-saturated choke cherry trees.
I’m from huge family picnics and corny jokes.
From Zane Gray’s Dale of the Forest and his sweetheart, Helen. From Honey and Loretta Jane and Donald and Wink. From Osie Teressa and Herbert.
I’m from hard-working mechanics with grease-stained hands and excellent reputations.
From fishermen, hunters and gardeners,
And from secret snacks under pillows to share late at night.
I’m from ”Whistling girls and crowing hens come to bad ends.” and trips up the lane to “exchange the air in your lungs”
and “Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel, Swish Your Bushy Tail”, and “Oh Tessie, Do You Know Jesus?”.
I’m from curled up sleeping at Watch Night Services and learning to swim in the Susquehanna.
From garden onions, radishes and Lebanon Bologna sandwiches on weekend drives.
From Gwendolyn stories and Pie-Face the kitty.
I’m from Stony Batter and Alsace-Lorraine and Germany…
Friday Night Pizza, Charles Chips and sweet iced tea.
From Snowbell – the roasted pet lamb and 80 years later great-grandfather was yet unforgiven.
From a fiancé tragically hit by a train to a quiet, steady Pappy sharing “mouse cheese” and crackers and reading stories.
I am from booming, ticking, chiming clocks… mourning doves and percolating coffee on summer mornings.
From homemade bread, Herr’s peanut butter fudge sundae’s, and “Is that baby deer sleeping with his blankie?”
And from every moment of 17,335 and more days recorded in Sovereign God’s book before even one of them came to be.
From God who makes the straight crooked when He needs to, to do a new thing, to rain on a dry desert. From so good but not safe yet perfectly safe… in His hands and under His wings… from the cleft of the rock.
“I Am From…” Adapted by Levi Romero
Inspired by “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon
