An Appalachian Migration Slant on Kentucky's "Where I'm From" Project

 In 1993, George Ella Lyon, Kentucky's current poet laureate, wrote a now famous poem entitled "Where I'm From," documenting the experiences that shaped her growing up journey in the mountains of Harlan County, Kentucky.   Lyon has now challenged Kentucky residents from every Kentucky county to create their own "Where I'm From" poem.  Information for submission, as well as a copy of Lyon's original "Where I'm From" poem can be found here.  The submission deadline is March 7 if you wish to participate.

George Ella Lyon's challenge has inspired me to write my own "Where I'm From" poem...from the perspective of the child of Eastern Kentucky migrants.  I had so much fun writing this and I hope you enjoy!  (Don't forget to read George Ella's original version first at the link above.)

Appalroot Farm's Where I'm From

I am from blackberry dumplins                                

from half-runners and city streets.

I am from a baby blue station wagon.

(Back home and mountain bound,

heading south on 23.)

I am from briar scratched shins

and sidewalk scraped knees

two worlds marking and etching

one gangly legged girl.

Me in front, in the white and blue dress, with my family.

I'm from supper vs. dinner,

from Banquet pot pies and creasy greens.

I'm from the haves 

and the have nots (except I knew better), 

from mountain high and hoe cake flat!

I'm from Mamaw's beet egg Easters

watching for snakes

and "everybody and his Granny" Decoration Day highways.

I'm from uptown and up salt creek,

thin as hen skin and tough as whang leather.

From the factory floor my daddy's broke hip paced,

the cattle filled creek bottoms of my papaw's place.

Under quilts of old feedsack

my mother had me sleep,

as sirens howled and street lights shone.

I am from a mountain migration--

long before my time--

a "lift up thine eyes" Duke's mixture.