Friday, March 13, 2009

Who Am I? (Creative Writing)

This is my all time favorite writing exercise and I got it from Granny Nanny. I love it because it allows you to pull out of yourself the things that wouldn't normally come to mind when you think of who you are. It makes you go beyond "I am a wife, a mother, a teacher," and think about the little things that molded you into what you are, as well as the heritage you hold on to.
After you read mine, feel free to fill in the template and form your own "Who Am I?"
------------------
I am from handmade quilts tied with love on a livingroom floor,
from tall glasses of ice-cold Lipton tea that only Mom can make just right
and Dad's yellow cake with chocolate frosting for breakfast.
I am from run down,
pieced together,
and the smell of sweet alfalfa after a warm summer's rain.
I am from the annoying musk thistle,
the persistant goathead sticker.
I am from branding on a hot Sunday afternoon
and my Father's cold blue eyes;
from Cleta
and Elsie
and Beulah
I am from very bull-headed
and slightly redneck.
From "don't steal from me"
and "don't lie to me."
I am from the Mormon Tabernacle
and Mother Earth,
where Spirit is something unique to each of us.
I am from a small midwest town
and the pioneers who traveled across these plains,
homemade noodles
and goulash.
From the baseball player who chose to farm,
the man who took in another's children,
and the one who never cared for his own.
I am from the boxes in my mother's basement,
a hopechest full of memories,
and the love that holds my family together.
-----------------------
Your turn!
CREATIVE WRITING TEMPLATE

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item),
from _______ (product name)
and _______ (anything).

I am from the _______ (home description... adjective, adjective, sensory detail).

I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item),
the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)
I am from _______ (family tradition)
and _______ (family trait),
from _______ (name of family member)
and _______ (another family name)
and _______ (family name).
I am from the _______ (description of family tendency)
and _______ (another one).

From _______ (something you were told as a child)
and _______ (another).

I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it).
(Further description.)

I'm from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry),
_______ (two food items representing your family).

From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail),
the _______ (another detail),
and the _______ (another detail about another family member).

I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).
You can elaborate as much (or as little) as you want. Either way, it is a neat way to look at yourself.

3 comments:

The Queen said...

I had thought that was awesome when I read it over on the Granny's site. You did a great job.. I think I'll pass since I no longer am sure where I'm from..

I'm from a lab.. a petre dish..I am from lies.. doesn't have the right ring to it now does it... ha ha..

Grandma Lola said...

This is fantastic honey. hugs & love to you all.
xxxooo

Farmer*swife a/k/a Glass_Half_Full said...

This is so beautiful! Loved it...

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin

Who's Stalking Me?