Page 65 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 59 Spring 2026

Our Poetic Town

I Am From
After our editor, Tarn Granucci, received
a poem from an insightful twelve-year- I am from the musical jewelry box with the twirling ballerina
old whose grandparents are Wallingford From long shag rugs and velvet chairs of red and gold
I am from the yellow colonial to the left of the cul-de-sac
residents, Bill and Louise Zemina, I decid- From leaf covered maple trees whose long limbs
ed to devote this column to the theme I remember as if they were my own.
of “Where I Am From.” George Ella
Lyon, a 21st century poet and writer of I am from Easter coats, white hats and gloves
children’s and adult books, created the From visits to Uncle Bobby and Auntie Ginger
To guessing the temperature on the sleepy ride home
“Where I Am From” list poetic form in I am Grandma Brennan’s chili and Sunday morning puffers
1993 in response to her literary friend’s And from, “Never leave dirty dishes in the sink.
writing project. The form requires a per-
sonal inventory, unique and important to I am from, “You only get what you pay for”
the writer, which ultimately shapes the And “This, too, shall pass.”
writer into the individual that he/she is. From That Girl, I Love Lucy, and I Dream of Jeannie.
I’m from “Oh from crying out loud” and “Be still.”
Here are selections of “I Am From” po- And lollipops at the bank.
ems by SMwP poets and, of course, our
guest poet, Adam Hein. I am from James Brennan and Rosamond Harvey
Who met at the YMCA dance on a Friday night.
I am from Ireland’s green pastures where cows still graze.
From pot roast on bread with gravy
To corned beef and cabbage

I am from Cape Cod’s Bass River to Ogunquit’s Marginal Way
From Norman Rockwell’s living room to living
On “the other side of the tracks.” I am from a sweet somber
In the poppy field. “Wake up, Dorothy.
There’s no place like home.”
by Cheryl Brannan

Where I'm From

I am from rainy, misty Pacific Northwest,
from green leafy land,
and soccer goals.
Where I'm from, we say, "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, Happy New Year!"
I am from stuffies and blankets,
from watching characters do silly things,
and cold creamy flavored ice,
and a flying robot shooting lasers from his hands.
Some may think I'm from a big black hairy creature knocking me over,
but really, I'm from happy, comforting places.
I'm from playing with a black and white ball,
and from meeting a kind, friendly person.
I am from all of these things and so much more.
Now you tell me ---where are you from?
by Adam Hein

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