I Am From | Teen Ink

I Am From MAG

July 29, 2008
By WriterDancerLover GOLD, Fontana, California
WriterDancerLover GOLD, Fontana, California
15 articles 1 photo 25 comments

I am from
My green blankey and
Climbing out of my crib
From playing mermaid in the bathtub.

I am from walking my dog,
And the noise he made when I step on his tail.

I am from my sheep nightlight
And Blue’s Clues and the Berenstain Bears.
I am from spinning until
I can’t tell where I am and
Seeing the world upside-down.

I am from long days at school
And hurrying home to watch Pokémon.
From chocolate-chip cookies at
Grandma’s house.

I am from July days in the pool
And running through the sprinklers.
From my imaginary friends and
The games we used to play like
Doctor and patient and teacher and student.

I am from trips to the grocery store
And that time I fell out of the cart onto the
Sticky linoleum floor.

I am from the tap tap tap
Of my tap shoes that one week
That I decided to be a dancer.
I am from trying new things.

I am from rainy days
And board games,
Saturday cartoons and Cheerios.

I am from walks on the beach
And the sand on my feet,
And not wanting to go home after vacation.

I am from Barbies and Polly Pockets
From playing with my sister,
The other half of me.

I am from books and flashlights
And pens and paper.
From silence to screaming.

I am from tears on my pillow
And unanswered cries.
From holding your hand
And that look in your eyes.

I am from past and present
And dreams of the future.
I am from hard work and
Harder play.
And I am from writing down my thoughts
On a midsummer’s day.


The author's comments:
Recently I was thinking a lot about the good old days when i was just a little kid. This piece is mainly about some of my favorite things about my childhood, and it truly shows how i got where i am now.

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This article has 357 comments.


lourdez said...
on Sep. 29 2014 at 11:02 am
lourdez, Merced, California
0 articles 0 photos 6 comments
hi im new in this web site   

Rosie630 GOLD said...
on Sep. 18 2014 at 8:38 am
Rosie630 GOLD, Wilmington, Delaware
18 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra." ~Jimmy Johnson

Wow...love it. This sounds like me. So relatable!

wilds PLATINUM said...
on Aug. 30 2014 at 6:16 pm
wilds PLATINUM, Newfane, New York
22 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
Brave is not being fearless but being able to overcome those fears you have

this poem is really good and inspireing 

on Aug. 3 2014 at 2:06 pm
IngeniousTurtle BRONZE, New York, New York
4 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge is limited, imagination encircles the world." -Albert Einstein

This is a really great poem. Love how it plays on the phrase "I am from", and instead of saying a place, uses a moment. :)

on Jul. 27 2014 at 4:06 am
mindwrecked BRONZE, Alor Gajah, Other
2 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"live simply so people can simply live"

i love it! good job

Sophw3 BRONZE said...
on Jul. 25 2014 at 8:47 pm
Sophw3 BRONZE, Winnipeg, Other
4 articles 1 photo 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Beneath the make-up and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world" -Marilyn Monroe

Loved this poem :) sooo well written and relatable 

kanade SILVER said...
on Jul. 25 2014 at 12:24 pm
kanade SILVER, Missoula, Montana
9 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
In a society that worships love, freedom and beauty, dance is sacred. It is a prayer for the future, a remembrance of the past, and a joyful exclamation of thanks for the present.
-Atwater-Rhoides, Ameila

I love this poem, It's something almost everyone can relate to, and i think that's awesome. 

ecmilla SILVER said...
on Jul. 11 2014 at 2:22 am
ecmilla SILVER, Berkeley, California
9 articles 0 photos 18 comments
I really really loved this poem. We did these in class this year and it brought back good memories.

on Jun. 11 2014 at 1:03 am
Propheteer GOLD, Sudbury, Other
13 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
“The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?
You're not going to out-work me. It's such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren't getting the places they want or aren't achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It's strictly based on being out-worked; it's strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready.”


― Will Smith

This is really powerful and relatable. Nicely done.

Xandi said...
on May. 20 2014 at 3:22 pm
Xandi, Mckinney, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Cinderella never asked for a prince. She asked for a night off and a dress." -Kiera Cass

This is an amazing poem. I'll definetly be looking out for more of them. I also read some of your other poems, and they are just awesome. You put so much thought and meaning into so few words, and are a truly gifted writer.

on May. 20 2014 at 10:52 am
JJ_Lone PLATINUM, Davenport, Washington
27 articles 0 photos 73 comments
this is beautiful. and amazing. this poem is unique in a different way then others. the best poem i have seen.

Calli G BRONZE said...
on Apr. 21 2014 at 12:34 pm
Calli G BRONZE, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
4 articles 0 photos 2 comments
This poem is lovely.  The element of nostalgia really hits home. I can relate to most of the childhood memories you mentioned, as I'm sure many others can, too. Beautifully done, you have a real gift.  

on Apr. 6 2014 at 7:20 pm
Paulina Ignacio, Northridge, California
0 articles 0 photos 8 comments
This is beautifuly writen. It is very visual and it's one of my all time favorite poems on here. Keep writing! You truly have a gift. I bet you would like the poem my big sister wrote. AlexandraL. Her poem called Different is a true work of art.

on Mar. 1 2014 at 8:35 am
C.neisha BRONZE, Shaw, Mississippi
3 articles 0 photos 9 comments
Beautiful :)

dd221 said...
on Feb. 27 2014 at 11:10 am
it was a good one

meghan00 said...
on Feb. 18 2014 at 1:36 pm
meghan00, Destrehan, Louisiana
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
 i like how you incorpated all the good memories from all of our childhoods to one poem. this was a good freeverse poem, i love it.

EEKgirl GOLD said...
on Jan. 11 2014 at 12:10 am
EEKgirl GOLD, Tigard, Oregon
15 articles 2 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ~ George Santayana

This poem made me smile. It's nice to read cheerful freestyle. :)

on Dec. 17 2013 at 3:46 pm
afloridagirl PLATINUM, Port Orange, Florida
22 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
Maybe the Journey isn't so much about becoming anything but unbecoming everything that isn't really you

This poem was awsome, helped me remember the good parts in my childhood

on Dec. 13 2013 at 9:27 am
FearlessWriter SILVER, Rantoul, Illinois
9 articles 0 photos 1 comment
I think this is one of my favorites every written on the site. I can relate to it as if you took the memories out of my head and simply set them into the frame of words. I love this poem. (:

Nard Allen said...
on Dec. 9 2013 at 6:06 pm
Very good!!