Where I'm From

I am from quilts

    From Simplicity and McCalls

I am from the tall pine in the corner of our yard

    covered in Christmas lights.

    It looked like an ice kingdom.

I am from the spirea bush,

    from the peonies

    that lined the sidewalk on my grandparents farm.

I’m from the sugar cookies and advanced height

    from Ray and Mardella

    and Jon

I’m from the board and card gamers

    and being a smart ass.

I’m from arguing about

    who gets to get the mail,

    or who has to take the dog out,

    or empty the dishwasher.

I am from camping.

    from kayaking and campfires.

I’m from 4-H,

    and working in the summer

    to get projects done for the fair.

I’m from extracurriculars,

    from two part-time jobs,

    and school clubs,

    and One Act/Musical.

I’m from friends and family.

    from spending time

    with the people I love the most

From inside voice

    and clean your plate

I’m from showing off my amateur piano skills

    at church on Sunday morning.

I’m from Iowa and Germany,

    from corn on the cob and kuchen.

From the cancer

    that killed my dad’s brothers and father

    and the Alzheimer’s

    that hit my grandma harder as she got older.

From the photo albums,

    overflowing a box

    in my parents’ closet.

I’m from a loving family

    that surprises me every day,

    and gives me all they can.

I’m from a great life,

    from a great home.

    and great family.


-Lily Joy Johnson