How to Write an "I Am From" Poem
Write a poem that mimics the "I Am From" poem by author George Ella Lyon. Her poem has been used internationally as a writing prompt for diverse groups and purposes. As you read the poem, it causes you to reflect upon your own childhood home and family in vivid detail and brings to mind images of years gone by. Though the poem contains a repetitive phrase and rather simple verse, it clearly captures a snapshot of the author's childhood. Write your own "I Am From" poem for a reflective and meaningful experience.
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Instructions
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1
Read the original poem by poet and author George Ella Lyon. Notice the repetitive phrase "I am from" as well as the descriptive language. Notice that the first two verses are of very similar format while the last two differ slightly while still remaining descriptive and containing the catch phrase "I am from."
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Think about words to describe your personal history, including the places you have lived, your family, your friends and traditions. Remember the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of your childhood. Describe those people closest to you in descriptive words and phrases that sum up their personality or meaning in your life.
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3
Begin writing with verse one in which the author describes her home. The verse contains three sentences, all beginning with the words "I am from..." that use descriptive phrases to name significant items from her childhood home. Use descriptive words that relate to the five senses in order to paint a vivid word picture for the reader.
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Write the second verse in the same format as the first, three sentences beginning with the words "I am from..." but describe family member traits, descriptions, habits and sayings. Think of favorite relatives and the images of a descriptive object or habit that they always bring to mind. Remember sayings and phrases often repeated in your family and write one of your sentences to include those. A third sentence might be written to include something about family religion or tradition.
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Begin the third verse with the poem's catch phrase "I am from..." but write only two sentences. Write about parental heritage or family tree and significant food items in this verse if you wish to keep to the original poem's exact verse theme. In the original poem, the second sentence begins simply with the word "From..." and goes on to describe significant physical detail of the author's father.
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Begin the fourth verse to describe a special location in your home where perhaps some significant family mementoes are kept. The original poem contains two sentences in this verse, only the second of which starts with the "I am from..." phrase. This verse ends with a sentence reinforcing the idea that the author comes from not just a geographical place but rather from the influence of all these significant things on her life. Write a similar significant last sentence to your poem that begins one last time with the poem's "I am from..." catch phrase.
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Resources
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