I Am From...
Write a poem of connection
Friend,
What do you do when you feel it–the splintering, the divisiveness, the hatred, the rhetoric?
The energy swirling around, attempting to divide us as human beings?
I don’t need to describe it any further. You know what I mean. I don’t want to give the divisive energy itself my attention.
BUT…I do have a creative resource to share with you that can counter that energy. Because if you’ve found you’re way here, you’re a seeker. Someone open to expression. A creative contemplative?
It’s an extra Sunday of the month, the fifth Sunday, so we’re stepping outside of our ‘Journey’ pattern to write into connection.
I love the I Am From Project created by George Ella Lyon and Julie Landsman. ‘I Am From’ poems use a simple and accessible form (we’ll try it!) to “create a national river of voices, reminding America that diversity is our origin and our strength.”
When we engage our creativity, we remember there are always possibilities, there is always another way.
In the face of division, we can create connection.
Write for yourself–see what comes up. I LOVE doing this exercise…I learned about it a couple of years ago and have returned to this prompt several times. Each time, new images from where I’m from emerge.
You might invite friends to write with us today. Or share this prompt or your poem on your socials, by email, or in any kind of community group you’re a part of. Inspire others to find connection, to oppose division.
We can build deeper understanding and stronger relationships.
Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.
Prompt: Write your poem from the template that George Ella Lyon and Julie Landsman created:
I am from ______________________________ (specific ordinary item)
From ________________________ and __________________________ (product name) (product name)
I am from the ______________________________________________ (home description) ___________________ , _________________ , ________________________________ (adjective) (adjective) (sensory detail)
I am from _________________________________________ , (plant, flower, natural item) ________________________________________________________________________ (description of above item)
I'm from ____________________________ and ______________________________ (family tradition) (family trait)
From ______________________________ and _________________________ (name of family member) (another family name)
I'm from the ____________________________ and ______________________ (description of family tendency) (another one)
From _________________________________ and ________________________ (something you were told as a child) (another)
I'm from ___________________________ , __________________________________ (representation of religion or lack of), (further description)
I'm from _______________________________________________ (place of birth and family ancestry) ______________________________________ , ________________________________ (a food item that represents your family) (another one)
From the ______________________________________________________________ (specific family story about a specific person and detail)
The _________________________________________________________ (another detail of another family member) _________________________________________________________________ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives) __________________________________________________________________ (line explaining the importance of family items)
I would love to read your ‘I Am From’ poems. Feel free to comment below or use the messaging app to reach me.
Deepening Practice: Take your ‘I Am From” poem and illustrate it in some way-either with drawing, collage or photos of the images you capture in words. Place the poem and illustration somewhere that you’ll see it, be able to return to it, sometime in the day. Let your words and images sink in. they may inspire you to write some more about the places that you’re from…
Wishing you a week of deep connections and creativity! Much love, Gabrielle Ariella
PHILLY-AREA FRIENDS!
Ava and I are re-starting our in person Inner Wisdom Moon Circles in October. Come play!
