Where I'm From

Where I’m From #44

By Lynn Shattuck

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from rainforest

And no road out

From sharp mountaintops and silver water

I am from Nowell Avenue, where my entire universe once lived:

Godparents, aunt, uncle and cousins, best friend and babysitters

I am from sliding glass back doors, always open

Seven-Up and Triscuits

And slivers of summer

I am from strong women:

Pilot, poet, spitfire, survivor

And hard-working men

I am from moss-laden forest

And moon boots

And trick candles on my birthday cake

I am from bikes with no helmets, no sunscreen, no helicopter parents

I’m from “Figure it out,” and, “Be home by dinner time.”

I am from stacks of books that swept me away

And the stories I wove to soothe myself to sleep

And rain-drenched pine

I am from rambling black bears

And homesick salmon

I am from the land of the Tlingit and Haida

Where Raven stole the sun, moon and stars

And most everything

Possesses a spirit

I am from rusting gold mines

Being swallowed into the mountain

Because the earth takes everything back

If you wait long enough

I am from chaos and calm

From blueberry-stained fingertips

And snow forts built on nights so cold

I could smell the stars.

Where to find Lynn:

Website: https://www.lynnlshattuck.com/

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/