Where I’m From Poetry Assignment
Mrs. Verdi
English
· Read George Ella Lyons’ poem, Where I’m From (on next page). Underline vivid imagery, similes and metaphorical statements.
· Now listen to Lauryn Hill’s song Every Ghetto, Every City, as you review the lyrics and do the same.Pay particular attention to phrases and words that she uses to describe where she is from.
· Brainstorm a list of places (both physical and emotional) where you are from. Go beyond places. Describe colors, people, and objects, smells, sights and favorite memories.Try to remember sayings and images that represent your origins-who you are.
· Then take this brainstorming and craft your own “Where I’m From” poem. Use George Ella Lyons poem as a model and tell the reader where you are from.
Prompts to help spark your memory and creativity:
· items from around the house, or in your room
· items from the yard
· items found in the neighborhood
· names of relatives
· favorite sayings of parents/friends
· names of foods, dishes that recalls family gatherings
· names of places from special moments or childhood memories
· events or traditions that are significant to you
Where I'm From
by George Ella Lyons
I am from clothespins,
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
I am from the dirt under the back porch.
(Black, glistening
it tasted like beets.)
I am from the forsythia bush,
the Dutch elm
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,
from Imogene and Alafair.
I'm from the know-it-alls
and the pass-it-ons,
from perk up and pipe down.
I'm from He restoreth my soul
with a cottonball lamb
and ten verses I can say myself.
I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,
fried corn and strong coffee.
From
the finger my grandfather lost
to the auger
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
Under my bed was a dress box
spilling old pictures,
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
I am from those moments-
snapped before I budded-
leaf-fall from the family tree.
Listen to Lauryn Hill’s “Every Ghetto, Every City” and follow along with the words below. Underline interesting phrases that seem to describe “where she is from.”
Lauryn Hill “Every Ghetto, Every City”
I was just a little girl
Skinny legs, a press and curl
My mother always thought I'd be a star
But way before my record deal,
The streets that nurtured Lauryn Hill
Made sure that I'd never go too far
Every ghetto, every city and suburban place I've been
Make me recall my days in the New Jerusalem
Story starts at Hootaville grew up next to Ivy Hill
When kids were stealing quartervilles for fun
"Kill the guy" in Carter park
Rode a Mongoose 'til it's dark
Watching kids show off the stolen ones
Every ghetto, every city and suburban place I've been
Make me recall my days in New Jerusalem
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back,
Looking back, looking back, looking back
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back
Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back
A bag of Bontons, twenty cents and a nickel
Springfield Ave. had the best popsicles
Saturday morning cartoons and Kung - Fu
Main street roots tonic with the dreds
A beef patty and some coco bread
Move the patch from my Lees to the tongue of my
shoe
'Member Frelng - Huysen used to have the bomb
leather
Back when Doug Fresh and Slick Rick were together
Looking at the crew, we thought we'd all live forever
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back
Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back
Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back
Drill teams on Munn street
Remember when Hawthorne and Chancellor had beef
Moving Records was on Central Ave.
I was there at dancing school
South Orange Ave. at Borlin pool
Unaware of what we didn't have
Writing your friends' names on your jeans with a
marker
July 4th races off of Parker
Fireworks at Martin stadium
The Untouchable P. S. P. , where all them crazy n**
be
And car thieves got away through Irvington
Hillside brings beef with the cops
Self - Destruction record drops
And everybody's name was Muslim
Sensations and '88 attracted kids from out - of - state
And everybody used to do the wop
Jack, Jack, Jack ya body
Nah, the Biz Mark used to amp up the party
I wish those days, they didn't stop
Every ghetto, every city and suburban place I've been
Make me recall my days in New Jerusalem
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
You know it's hot, don't forget what you've got
Looking back
Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back
Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back