2. Free Form: “Where I Come From”
by Rosemary L. Finley
I come from that fresh-cut green gra**
from the cherry bush
I come from the ole green apple tree
(Climbing its branches,
plucking, tart green apples)
I am from the china cabinet
the warm fireplace
whose flames flickered away the frostbite from my toes
I come from the bumps and bruises,
from falling and getting back up again,
I come from the “don't speak lest you spoken to”s
and the “too young for grown folks business”
I come from Lord sanctify my soul
with a hand clap
and a shout, yes! thank you Jesus!
I'm from Merrick and The Meadow's Brook
fried okra and black eye peas
From the open tone my Nanny taps
on the conga
her four fingers on the edge, thumb outside
Under the living room table
I would hide many a night
sneaking peeks,
pecks of white bread rolled in sugar
I come from tippy toes on stair treads--
quietly downstairs late into the night --
Nanny's companion never far from sight –
Inspired by George Ella Lyon's poem “Where I am From”