1. Origin poems
7th Grade English

2. Discuss What does origin mean?
Why do you think poets so frequently write about their origins?
What is so important about our origins? Why must they be explored?

3. The original “Where I’m from” poem by: george ella lyon
I am from clothespins,
I'm from He restoreth my soul
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
          with a cottonball lamb
          and ten verses I can say myself.
I am from the dirt under the back porch.
I'm from Artemus and Billie's Branch,
(Black, glistening,
fried corn and strong coffee.
it tasted like beets.)
From the finger my grandfather lost
I am from the forsythia bush
          to the auger,
the Dutch elm
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
whose long-gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
Under my bed was a dress box
I'm from fudge and eyeglasses,
spilling old pictures,
          from Imogene and Alafair.
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
I'm from the know-it-alls
          and the pass-it-ons,
I am from those moments--
from Perk up! and Pipe down!
snapped before I budded --
leaf-fall from the family tree.

4. Examples of figurative language
Repetition
Metaphor
Imagery
Where do you see each of these…?

5. Ms. Murray’s “where I’m from” poem
I am from plastic laundry hampers
I’m from the other side of the Atlantic
from lemon rosemary soap and baking soda toothpaste.
From crispy pizza fritte sprinkled with sea salt and hot, buttery pastina cooled with ice cubes. Irish soda bread and dark beers like milkshakes.
I am from deep in the forest
From a big grey house with paint chipping off the sides
From ice jingling in cups and plates breaking.
worn wooden floors and shudders that match the front door.
Loud bellows, strong grips, and swallowed tears
I am from lilacs and daffodils
From the pitchfork stabbing in the ankle at the garage sale
Strawberry bushes growing in clay pots whose fruit were always eaten before they were ripe.
the bee sting on the lip while eating a hotdog,
and the broken nose and black eye at the grocery store.
I am from chatty Cathy’s and jumping jacks
From “always do your best” and “treat others the way you want to be treated.”
I am from the safe deposit box in the cabinet of the antique bookshelf that belonged to my Dad’s family but stayed in my Mom’s house when he moved out.
I am from Murray’s and Fustos’. Anns and Johns.

6. The original “My town” poem by: buddy wakefield

7. Examples of figurative language
Repetition
Metaphor
Personification
Where do you see each of these…?

8. Asfm high schoolers’ “our town”

9. discuss Did you like this poem? Why or why not?
What lines stood out to you from this poem?
How did you see them use figurative language effectively?

10. Now choose… Which of the two types of origin poems did you prefer?
“Where I’m From”
“My Town”
There is a template/planning sheet for each of the two poems in the blog. Open the one that you want to work with and go for it!