Where I’m From #250 with Ann W. Hagerty

Where I’m From #250 by Ann W. Hagerty Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from brown octagon patterns on the kitchen linoleum from petrichor in August, lightning bugs at dusk from a dogwood tree and pine forests from the long limbs of magnolias, built for climbing I am from the bright coppery taste of drinking straight from the hose from My Little Pony and Animaniacs from whiffle ball in the front yard I am from the nightlong trilling of frogs through the window screen, singing in heartbeat I’m from dry humor and quick wits from Mary, Shirley, and Opal I’m from packed-full bookshelves and a packed-full wine cellar from ‘writing isn’t a real job’ but also ‘let’s go on an adventure’ I’m from mashed potato casserole and pumpkin pie, from my mother’s green salads I’m from my cousin Franki’s sudden death by drowning and my cousin Jennifer’s long, slow death by cancer I’m from Shirley and Opal’s recipe boxes now ensconced on my kitchen counter from scrapbooks and crosswords and the vision I once had in childhood, a waking dream where I stood at the front of an endless line every woman I’m from standing behind me clear-eyed, chins up, the long vein of us curving away out of sight among the green hills