Where I'm From | Meera Vijayann

Meera Vijayann

April 14, 2026 / 30:18/E32

Where I’m From #32

By Meera Vijayann

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from the pages of old journals,

From Bona and black ink,

I am from wooden floors filled with toys and baby clothes,

(Lemony, fragrant, I can’t quite explain why this is).

I am from jasmines, pine trees, sweet leaves that hold morning dew,

I am from Diwali dinners and unbridled Joy,

From Maloo and Mccombe,

I’m from the kind of loyal you don’t find anymore, the kind of love

that’s deeper than the ocean,

From “Don’t waste your food!” And “Pay attention!”,

I’m from the sound of temple bells and the Saturday choir,

I’m from the backwater breeze that whispers to wet coastal earth,

From soft white rice topped with lentils and mango pickle so hot it burns your tongue,

I’m from all the books that my grandmother read when she had no one and the little blue lines under words that spoke to her,

I'm from the scent of her dreams.

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Alyson Shelton

Alyson is an award winning screenwriter and essayist.