I am From Poem (Polished)

I am from a cassette tape player.
from the 1980’s, analog TV, Atari games and LP's.

I am from the early 1920's. 

garden 1990

Ammonia cleaned linoleum, crock pot stews, and Roaring Twenties appeal. 

I am from the wild growing golden Buttercups. 

The row of Elm trees 

Whose long gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

I’m from Christmas' past and a long line of hard workers 

from my mom and dad

I’m from a strict religious upbringing and honest as the day is long. 

And ironclad dependability. 

I’m from "I want my MTV!" and "You can't do that," 

and "Study hard and be good,”  

dad's postcard 1990

I’m from the day in the park, hiking to Hanging Lake and exploring The Reliance with my brother and dear dad. 

I’m from Wichita and wandered ever since. I am one eighth Hungarian and the rest Bohemian.

Soup Starter, my mom's chip beef gravy over mashed potatoes and grandma's beef and noodles over mashed potatoes.  

From Great Grandma, who chased my dad through a field when he was ten and drug him back to the house by his ear for disobeying her. 

My dad claimed she couldn't out run him and she proved her athletic abilities and hurdled a waist-high barbed wire fence. 

Family photographs, my late great grandma letters.

Hung in the hall with pride and stored away with loving care.

And a Technics turntable that I inherited from my Uncle. 

By Emily 

“I Am From” Poem