Where I’m From #41

By Katie Colt

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from FM radio,

from the backseat of a Buick 

and the piano bench.

I am from the cement patio 

outside the sliding glass door.

(Gray, cool to the touch, 

a playground for ants).

I am from the tomato plants

the cicadas

whose swelling songs 

still serenade me

on July evenings.

I’m from diet soda pop and coupons,

from Miriam and John.

I’m from the big-feelings-feelers

and the over-analyzers

from Practice makes perfect! 

and White lies save lives!

I’m from sky God in cloud Heaven

and Adonai our G-d

and TV midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

I’m from South Side and North Shore,

Jr. Whoppers and Tic Tacs.

From the choir my grandfather 

toured with in college,

the voice my father lost with his faculties.

In the office there were boxes 

and boxes of photographs,

an unsorted mountain of memories

to comfort our ghosts.

I am from those moments—

curated in the ordinary—

buried in ground and song.

Where to find Katie:

Website: https://www.thecoltcreative.com/

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/