Writing With Technology

Chapter 2 of Writing To Change The World by Mary Pipher 2005 p. 31, 32, 33.

Lyon, George Ella “George Ella Lyon poet and writer” 24 Oct. 2007 http://www.georgeellalyon.com/ see I am from poem at bottom of page.

http://poemhunter.com/ site for several poems—Not sure how good?

http://www.tedkooser.com/ wrote a poem called Nebraska that is a kind of I am from poem.  http://www.missouriwestern.edu/plwp/hswd06/poem.htm poem Nebraska

Below is part of a handout from Dr. Jane Frick.

Write a poem to include references to food, places, and religion.  Look for pivotal events that shape your core values.  Who are the people and experiences that interested you? Look at certain things you care about—school, sports, leisure activities, hobbies, animals, and politics.

You may choose to start your poem in several ways—

I Am From is one,  A Place Called Home is another,  use just the word Home might work for you.

Below is the way Mary Pipher ask her writers to think about there poem.

I Am From

            Who are your parents and grandparents?

            Where have you lived?

            What foods make up your eating habits?

            What some attitudes that make up  your background?

            What were some sayings in your family?  If your middle name was used you were really in trouble.

            What occupations did some of your ancestors have?

Below is the example found in the book Writing To Change The World.

I Am From

I am from Avis and Frank, Agnes and Fred, Glessie May and Mark

From the Ozark Mountains and the high plains of eastern Colorado

From mountain snowmelt and southern creeks with water moccasins

I am from oatmeal eaters, gizzard eaters, haggis and raccoon eaters

I am from craziness, darkness, sensuality, and humor.

From intense do-gooders struggling through ranch winters in the 1920s.

I am from “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything,” and “Pretty is as pretty does” and “Shit-muckelty brown” and “Damn it all to hell”.

I am from no-dancing-or-drinking Methodists, but cards were

 okay except on Sunday, and from tent-meeting Holy Rollers,

from farmers, soldiers, bootleggers, and teachers.

I am from Schwinn girl’s bike, 1950 Mercury two-door, and West Side Story

Above is just part of Pipher’s poem, but it should give you a good idea of how you might want to think about your poem.