Where I’m From
Where I’m From
A Poem of Identity
A Poem of Identity
Write a poem that expresses where you are from—not just a place, but an experience, a feeling, a collection of moments. This is not about geography alone; it’s about memories, objects, sensations, and the invisible things that shape you.
This poem is all about physicalizing abstract emotions. You cannot simply say you are from sadness or bravery. Instead, you must show it.
Instead of: I am from sadness.
Try: I am from pillowcases stiff with salt, from the hum of a refrigerator at 2 AM when the world is too quiet.
Instead of: I am from bravery.
Try: I am from knuckles scarred by locker doors, from an untied shoelace at the starting line that I never stopped to fix.
Be careful with clichés. “Sadness” being represented by “tears” is far below you as a writer. Your challenge is to go deeper. Find the details that make your experience unique, not generic.
You MUST complete the brainstorming template (provided separately).
Your final poem does NOT need to copy George Ella Lyon’s poem exactly. You are encouraged to find your own structure and title.
No clichés. If you find yourself writing something that sounds poetic but could belong to anyone, push yourself further. What makes it yours?
Abstract emotions must be transformed into physical details. Not “fear,” but “the click of a lock checked twice.”
Start with objects. What’s in your home? Your pockets? Your childhood bedroom? Objects tell stories.
Think about senses. What did you hear growing up? What did you taste? What smells transport you back to a different time?
Play with structure. Your poem can be a list, a memory, a recipe, a letter, or something completely unexpected.
Avoid phrases anyone could say. If your line could fit in a million other poems, it’s not specific enough!
A poem structured as a recipe (Two cups of late-night radio, a spoonful of door slams, a dash of burnt toast).
A poem where each stanza begins with a different sense (I hear…, I smell…, I taste…).
A poem that moves in time, from past to present, showing what you’ve carried with you.
George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From” (original inspiration)
Li-Young Lee’s “The Gift” (memory as detail-driven poetry)
Claudia Rankine’s Citizen (abstract emotions made physical through language)
Nikki Giovanni’s “Knoxville, Tennessee” (sensory nostalgia)