Where I'm From.
School Assignments and Poetry from Nowhere
It’s poetry season.
Every spring (for the last few years), I have concluded the third quarter of my high literature classes with a poetry unit, complete with good reads, lots of metaphor, and typewriters. Always typewriters.
The year has been somewhat difficult for my students, and my brain is almost completely shot from semester two at Duke Divinity. (Those text-critical issues are not gonna identify themselves…) So we opted for a fill-in-the-blank, “Where I’m From” poem originating from George Ella Lyon. There’s a whole foundation surrounding this beautiful poem idea. I used this template to teach. But this is not a curriculum site, but about my writing. So…here’s what I wrote about myself. About Where I’m From. I wonder if we can get these to catch on, because they’re quite beautiful.
Where I’m From. by Kelly Hellmuth
I am from southern sunshine,
from hot suburban pavement and horse-girl bike-capades.
I am from double-reeded classical music.
(Fragile, melodious, sounds kinda like ducks.)
I am from buttercups and purple clover,
bright pollen and soul-soft leaves holding tightly to my bare feet.
I am from extravagant Douglas firs all winter
and cow field family reunions in the heat.
From Ethel. From Joyce.
I’m from behaving like a lady,
and boy cousin sword fights.
From the pay-close-attentions
and the it-don’t-matters.
I’m from stand-sit-kneel-and-sometimes-raise-your-hands-
as-long-as-your-grandma’s-not-watching-
but-we-love-the-Lord-all-the-same-
Spirit-filled outpourings of Grace.
I’m from sprawling metropolistic Houston
and countryfied North Zulch,
unsweet tea and dill pickles.
From nine-times-removed from the line of Windsor
to the clawed index finger left behind
when mom’s Uncle Brother drunkenly
ran over his hand with the lawn mower.
These aged-brown polaroids only live
inside my head, planted in the dark places
sprouting new family seeds
through word and deed.
Blessings, friends.


This is so beautiful! I’ve never attempted one of these, but now I want to!
I love this!! I also had to write one of these last year and it was so hard and so meaningful. Beautiful!