Where I’m From Poetry Assignment



Where I’m From Poetry AssignmentMrs. VerdiEnglishRead 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 roomitems from the yarditems found in the neighborhoodnames of relativesfavorite sayings of parents/friendsnames of foods, dishes that recalls family gatheringsnames of places from special moments or childhood memoriesevents or traditions that are significant to youWhere I'm Fromby George Ella LyonsI am from clothespins,from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.I am from the dirt under the back porch.(Black, glisteningit tasted like beets.)I am from the forsythia bush,the Dutch elmwhose long gone limbs I rememberas if they were my own.I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,from Imogene and Alafair.I'm from the know-it-allsand the pass-it-ons,from perk up and pipe down.I'm from He restoreth my soulwith a cottonball lamband ten verses I can say myself.I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,fried corn and strong coffee.From the finger my grandfather lostto the augerthe eye my father shut to keep his sight.Under my bed was a dress boxspilling old pictures,a sift of lost facesto 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 girlSkinny legs, a press and curlMy mother always thought I'd be a starBut way before my record deal,The streets that nurtured Lauryn HillMade sure that I'd never go too farEvery ghetto, every city and suburban place I've beenMake me recall my days in the New JerusalemStory starts at Hootaville grew up next to Ivy HillWhen kids were stealing quartervilles for fun"Kill the guy" in Carter parkRode a Mongoose 'til it's darkWatching kids show off the stolen onesEvery ghetto, every city and suburban place I've beenMake me recall my days in New JerusalemYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking back,Looking back, looking back, looking backYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking backThinking back, thinking back, thinking backA bag of Bontons, twenty cents and a nickelSpringfield Ave. had the best popsiclesSaturday morning cartoons and Kung - FuMain street roots tonic with the dredsA beef patty and some coco breadMove the patch from my Lees to the tongue of myshoe'Member Frelng - Huysen used to have the bombleatherBack when Doug Fresh and Slick Rick were togetherLooking at the crew, we thought we'd all live foreverYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking backThinking back, thinking back, thinking backYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking backThinking back, thinking back, thinking backDrill teams on Munn streetRemember when Hawthorne and Chancellor had beefMoving Records was on Central Ave.I was there at dancing schoolSouth Orange Ave. at Borlin poolUnaware of what we didn't haveWriting your friends' names on your jeans with amarkerJuly 4th races off of ParkerFireworks at Martin stadiumThe Untouchable P. S. P. , where all them crazy n**beAnd car thieves got away through IrvingtonHillside brings beef with the copsSelf - Destruction record dropsAnd everybody's name was MuslimSensations and '88 attracted kids from out - of - stateAnd everybody used to do the wopJack, Jack, Jack ya bodyNah, the Biz Mark used to amp up the partyI wish those days, they didn't stopEvery ghetto, every city and suburban place I've beenMake me recall my days in New JerusalemYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking backWelcome back, welcome back, welcome backYou know it's hot, don't forget what you've gotLooking backThinking back, thinking back, thinking backThinking back, thinking back, thinking back ................
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