Where I Am From

225. Where I Am From

In 2006 I went to Kirkridge Retreat Center in Pennsylvania to a writing workshop led by Ina Hughes. She said to write “Where I Am From” and not to write: I am from Indianapolis and was born in 1933.

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Where I Am From

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I am from

chicken and dumplings

hand cut by Grandma Freeman

picked up by me for her

to drop into the boiling

—

I am from

houses with too many people

and apartments with

too few

—

I am from

standing at the front

of the church at two

years old to sing alone

Jesus Loves Me

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and I am from

arguing and reading

workshop going and

carving out for myself

what I believe about

that Jesus

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I am from oatmeal cookies

then or now

absent of raisins

filled with nuts

—

cookies that fill

empty spaces

caused by

where I am from

—

Ann Freeman Price

© Copyright 2006 by Ann Freeman Price

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It’s an interesting exercise. I’ve done it different times in different years and come up with a very different poem every time. Sit for a minute and think about where you are from, and then write it.