I am from wooden swings hanging from trees,
From Harry Potter books and bicycles
I am from a neighborhood surrounded by woods
and a house destroyed by fire
I am from tall trees,
whose branches helped hide me when I didn't want to be found.
I am from clumsiness and short attention spans,
and from loyalty and ambition
I am from competitive family reunions every Summer,
from clam bakes and freshly made cheesecakes.
I am from staying out late to play games,
from getting hit by cars and
from two trips in 20 days to the ER.
I am from books and from bad luck,
and from determination and hard work.
Heather, I feel that this poem is a perfect reflection of you. It encapsulates your past and worldview while using your comedic relief to explain your experiences. I also enjoy your rhyming consistency, for you rely on both rhyme and slant rhyme to communicate your past. I also love how you incorporate the "bad luck" side of you, from your link to your burning house to your car accidents and ER visits. All in all, I think it is a very effective poem and reflects who you are, as far as I know you, in a nutshell.
ReplyDeleteHeather, I can strongly hear your voice in your poem and it makes me connect to it even more. Your piece reminds me of a Sherman Alexie work because it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. From being present at your family reunion, I know how crucial it is in shaping who you are and what you love. From your poem and being your friend, it is apparent that you have a strong love for the outdoors and what it has to offer: wooden swings, tall trees, and outdoor games. While the outdoors may have brought some bad luck, you continue to illustrate how much it means to you. This is a beautiful reflection of your identity and personality. Great work, Heather.
ReplyDeleteYour voice is so strong in this poem that I literally heard you reading it in my head! I love how comically dark this poem is! My favorite lines are your final two, "I am from books and from bad luck, and from determination and hard work" (15-16). I am also from bad luck, determination, and hard work. Sometimes bad things happen and there's no stopping them. That doesn't mean we give up, though; it means we work hard to keep our heads above water. It means we do everything we can to fight our bad luck and whatever else gets in our way. What makes that even better is that it is exactly you.
ReplyDeleteA moving poem, Heather. You do such a nice job here showing us the ups and downs of life, and how much you have persevered to get where you are. So glad to have you with us!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can feel the breeze on my face and smell the wooded backdrop in this poem, Heather. I love the way you show us the actual space you are form, woods and swings, as well as the less tangible things, clumsiness and short attention spans. Great poem!
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