Inspired by G. E. Lyon’s Where I’m From
I am from red leaves
From pumpkins on the porch
From chocolate on my cheek
The running on damp cold sidewalk
Leading up to the terrifying goblin
My brother pushing me
Shaking knees
I am from gasoline
From the smell of the garage
Yells over the rumbling
Popcorn falling on the race track
From the pickup truck
And the lemon
With the smell of leather
Sunlines on my shoulders
I am from summer labor
From scorching asphalt and grinding concrete
Sweltering days spent gouging the earth
Grinding the dirty air between my teeth
Stinging sweat in my eyes
Laughing in the chilly break room
Picking rough concrete clumps off my leather boots
I am from track and field
Hoagies wrapped in soggy paper
Screams from crowds to sprint
Grunts from power to throw
Slamming from feet to jump
I am from cold
Seeping through my window
My favorite way to sleep
Blankets piled on me
Morse code tapped on the wall next to mine
My sibling’s bruised fingers in the morning
By Lorna Drexler
I am from red leaves
From pumpkins on the porch
From chocolate on my cheek
The running on damp cold sidewalk
Leading up to the terrifying goblin
My brother pushing me
Shaking knees
I am from gasoline
From the smell of the garage
Yells over the rumbling
Popcorn falling on the race track
From the pickup truck
And the lemon
With the smell of leather
Sunlines on my shoulders
I am from summer labor
From scorching asphalt and grinding concrete
Sweltering days spent gouging the earth
Grinding the dirty air between my teeth
Stinging sweat in my eyes
Laughing in the chilly break room
Picking rough concrete clumps off my leather boots
I am from track and field
Hoagies wrapped in soggy paper
Screams from crowds to sprint
Grunts from power to throw
Slamming from feet to jump
I am from cold
Seeping through my window
My favorite way to sleep
Blankets piled on me
Morse code tapped on the wall next to mine
My sibling’s bruised fingers in the morning
By Lorna Drexler