Motivation

One of my favorite writing exercises comes from George Ella Lyon. She wrote a poem titled Where I'm From. Both Juliet and I have our versions on our about pages. But what I love about the format is that you could write 100 versions of the poem and have them all reflect where you are in life and who you are in that moment. And I encourage you to write your own version.

Today's poem is a Where I'm From by our dear friend Graziella who is facing some serious health issues.

My motivation today is her words. I am thinking about her smile and the way she tells stories and the way her eyes glimmer when she talks about the old country.

Where I’m From

I’m from walled towns

From queues of cypresses leading

To fruited hillsides crowned with castles.

I’m from sun-kissed vineyards and terraced land

 with shimmering olive trees outstretched,

twisted and knotted like grandfathers’ limbs.

I’m from sandy shores and gentle breezes waving a mythical sea,

 and candid white peaks offering not frozen snow

but immortal works of art.

I’m from songs, poets, heroes,

 and outlaws  too, carrying rosary beads,

heaps of polenta, pasta, and risotto, but very little meat.

I’m from Mama, Papa, Nonni and neighbors too,

Plenty hugs to go around four siblings sharing

Cold sheets, hand-me-downs, skimpy holidays and love.

Graziella Pacini Buonanno

Writer, West Chester County, NY