Where I am From

 Where I am From

I am from stuffed animals and halters

From John Deere spray and Hocus Pocus

I am from the long gone crab apple tree and maroon window panes

It felt like heaven on earth

I am from the boxelder in the front lawn

The volunteer bush that covered the volleyball poles

An eyesore to some, but a centerpiece to me

I’m from the family holidays and ginger hair

From Eva Trausch and Irene Wellensiek

And Harvey Maricle

I’m from the Sunday morning church after parties and 

Icing cookies with my cousins

From “Did you hear what happened to the boy who cried wolf?” and

“Goodnight, sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite!”

I’m from rosaries and Sunday morning mass

I’m from Albion, Ireland, and Luxembourg

Wagon wheels and corn beef

From almost burning the house down

To Cody almost burning the house down

To Carson almost burning the house down

The finger that Carson chopped off in the grain vac

I’m from the Salber pasture

The original settlers of Boone

The 4 corners

I’m from these

Experiences, 

Places, and

People,

This is where I am from.

- Cass

Where I'm From

 I’m from floral prints and crosses

“The Good Book” and “The Golden Rule”

Going to church is mandatory on Sundays in this household

And Jesus loves me,

I’m from “Homosexuality is a sin”

“Hate the sin, love the sinner”

Conservative politics

And Trans people aren’t real

I’m from being called she/her despite my attempts at androgyny.

A role from a forcedly cast play I never fit into.

Girl?
Boy?

Not girl?

Not quite boy?

I’m from high expectations

Why can’t I can’t be more like my sister?

Crushing anxiety

“What message does wearing rainbow suspenders to Color Day send?”

Be the good little pastor’s daughter, fit into the binary and your part.

I’m from the dreaded art block

Writer’s Block

Missed deadlines

Lack of motivation

I’m from fears of irrational things

Dolls, specifically Chucky and baby dolls

Dummies

Some mannequins

Tornadoes

I’m from various places, many places across the map.

Ancestry in Europe like Germany, Wales, and Scandinavia

Omaha

Oak

Mattoon

Now Albion.

A lot has changed in 2-3 years.

Whether location,

Name,

Personal identity,

Or interests

I can’t change the past or the events that shaped me

But I can move on from it, growing as a person as I realise I’m much stronger than I realise.

I take my future into my own hands.

I’m from all these things

Some good

Some bad

But I’m me.

Casper.

And that’s okay.

Other people can deal with it.

- The Friendly Ghost

Where I'm From

I am from dusty VHS tapes,

From a sweet addiction to Diet Coke and cooking shows.

I am from that tan brick house right outside of town,

Tied together with a beautifully vast green yard.

It sounded like a football stadium one day and a bird sanctuary the next.

I’m from blaring polka music and the sound of Smokey the Bear’s “Yahoo”s.

From the musical legend Ernie Kucera, the master chef Brian Henry,

And famous small-town athletes.

I’m from church every Sunday,

And enormous (and sometimes exotic) family meals.

From constantly yelling “Carter, knock it off!”

And constantly hearing “Nope” in reply.

I’m from the Golden Rule,

“Treat others as you would like to be treated.”

I’m from traditional delicacies,

That invoked dumpling eating contests and fighting over the last cherry Kolace. 

From Czechoslovakia to the Bohemian Alps of Nebraska,

And all the way to Albion.

I’m from ocean blue eyes and dimples from my dad

To long blonde hair from my mom.

From not so 20/20 vision and narrow eyes.

Always sharing my opinion and consistently being the loudest in the room.

(You can take your bets where I get that from.)

I am from those packed photo albums cozied in the basement,

All picturing a loud family full of love, passion, and little rowdiness here and there.

-S. Weenie

Kitchen Poem

Kitchen Poem

The leaves fall and crumbled off the wilting plant 

On the top of fridge it died

The oven was warm, its mouth ready to open 

And eat whatever pan we put in

The fridge has colorful magnets on its smooth white surface

The counters were covered in small green plants and succulents

The table had flour all over the wooden board

Outside the window was my grandmother kneeling over the garden

Picking vegetables and herbs

Her hands were caked in dirt for digging for potatoes

The basket next to her was filled with basil, tomatoes,cucumbers, and other goodies

She stood up and carried it over to the house

She bathed them in the sink, washing off any sign of dirt,

Like it was never in the ground, the brown water swirl down the drain

She took the sharpest knife and cut and peeled all of her ingredients 

Ready to be cooked in an iron pan

She fried the slabs of meat in the iron pan, grease danced over the meat

The oven timer went off, she pulled out her creation

She wiped the table down, wiping of all the white powder and leftover dough

Placing each plate down in its place, the finest silver next to them

Plating each dish in the China set, covered in pink and white flowers

Steam swirled over the table, scent filling our noses

The family was together and so we ate

-kaz

Where I'm From

Where I’m From

I am from my imagination,

From Barbies and Polly Pockets.

I am from my front yard,

From the late afternoons of survival campaigns with friends.

I am from hot summer days,

From sweaty, leg-burning bike rides to chlorine-filled lungs from a good day the pool.

I am from the boring summer days,

From an unfair wrestling match with my older brother

And arguing on which cartoons to watch.

I am from California,

From two day trips to my grandparent’s house and the beach.

I am from the 4th of July,

From crazy brothers who light loud and dangerous fireworks

And good laughs from family members.

I am from Mondays,

From half days at the babysitter’s
to movies in the afternoon with dad, eating m&m’s and drinking bug juice.

I am from the scary basement,

From stupid stories my brothers would tell me.

I am from the elementary days,

From learning the number eleventeen

To birthday spankings from Mr. Bussey.

I am from amazing Thanksgivings

From delicious mashed potatoes and ham

To getting bodycheck by vicious family members in a “nice” game of football.

I am from my Grandparent’s basement, 

From multiple rounds of hide-and-seek.

I am from sick days, 

From missing so much homework

To wanting to drop out of the 4th grade!

I am from a childhood,

From a time that has made me who I am today,

From a place that now holds my greatest memories.

JS

Where I'm From

I’m from a small house in the suburbs just inside the city limits

I’m from knowing, befriending, trusting your neighbors

I’m from shared bedrooms

I’m from cramped Christmases in our living room

I’m from a back alley with raspberry bushes and a comforting lack of fences

I’m from Nerf guns, rugburns, and the old days Sega

I’m from a kiddy pool that happened to blow into our yard, making it a summer to remember

I’m from those seven trees on that little lot

I’m from a small house filled with kids

I’m from burned CDs and mac & cheese

I’m from color coded bathrooms

I’m from a park that wasn’t more than a short bike ride away

I’m from a childhood I don’t want to leave

I’m from harsh truths that I’ve grown too old to be shielded from

I’m from a little girl who dreamed so big for someone so small

I’m from Skate Island, Twisters, and that Pizza Hut on South Locust

I’m from a time were you had to choose which Walmart you went to

I’m from an alternate reality where it’s Release mother duck, not Feliz Navidad

I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to go back to where I’m from

What school would I go to

Where would I work

Would I still have the friendships that are now long forgotten

Who would I be if I never left

~ Yours Truly

Lineage

I am from blankets

From Mr. Clean and Windex

I am from the jungle of a garden

Green, wild

It sounded like summer

I am from the crab apple,

The cherry tree

Standing tall and strong

I’m from the tomato juice and hairy body

From Dot and Lester and even Dad

I’m from the anxious and extremely stubborn.

From, “Speak up”

And, “Don’t cry unless you’re hurt”

I’m from home,

Potatoes and tomatoes

From the time grandpa rode an elephant before he came home from war

To the smell of smoke on clothes

I’m from the pictures lying in packets around the house,

Waiting to be scrapbooked by the hands of a mother

I am from a family of love and hate

From happiness and sadness

From lies and truth

I am from a family of hope

From a place where even if we are angry, we care

And that’s all that really matters.

-B