P: Past and Present (A-Z Blogging Challenge)

Today is day 16 of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge began with A on April 1 and continues the alphabet throughout the
month, except on Sundays. My theme for the month will be this blog’s tagline: life, books, and all things bookish, so you can expect a little bit of this ‘n that. I’m still reading, though, and I’ll add reviews whenever possible. Thirty days of blogging is a huge commitment for me, but I’m looking forward to meeting and greeting new blog friends.

Today’s words: Past and present

In Writing Workshop a couple month’s ago, Emily read the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon. It’s about finding ourselves at the “You are here” spot on the map that is our life. When you read it, you’ll find the poem evocative and powerful–a poem that can stand on it’s own two feet and doesn’t pussy-foot around. Those old photos Lyon writes about, the ones we press so carefully into scrapbooks (or toss offhandedly into shoe boxes)–those photos point to who we are and how we got here.
And in true workshop fashion, we wrote a copy change:

I am from the woman with the page boy and legs up to here,

from the man with shirtsleeves rolled–

smudged with graphite, the student.

I am from the college campus with winding walks

and buckeyes rolling downhill–

from Saturday night card parties in attic apartments,

I am from the lab school where graduate students

mined seven-year-old minds for gold,

from Dick and Sally and Jane.

I am from a time when life was as clear as simple syrup–

A time melted away like the Stoddard’s frozen custard that dripped down my chin

leaving me sticky with memories.

Update: I found this video of George Ella Lyon reading “Where I’m From“–it’s a must-see. Also mosey on over to Denice’s Day and read her P post: Photo. Denice is a friend, a photographer, and master-in-the-kitchen. Her post is a nice companion to Lyon’s video.