I Am From

©2011 Ethel Mitchell

I am from Souix City, Iowa, a city of stock yards, corn fields and Loess Hills.

I am from Sundays spent at church and the cemetery cleaning

the ground around the graves, listening to the band playing in the kiosk,

playing tag with my cousins, eating our lunch

on a blanket spred on the ground.

I am from East Seventh street

extending up a hill that was just made

for sledding in winter and picnics

by the river while men cut ice.

Ice skating, roasting marshmallows over bon fires

on the banks and going home cold but happy.

Wrapping a blanket around me, reading

one of my many books

and drinking hot cocoa.

I am from paper dolls made out of Sears Roebuck catalog,

taught to me by Enid Bow,

southern belles dancing in the cotillion dresses

from hollyhock dolls, jacks on the side walk

and playing house with doll

furniture my father

had made for me.

A three mirror dresser,

a bed like my parents only small,

a reclinging chair

plus

table and chair for tea parties.

I am from panties made from flour sacks

or bloomers made out

of the same material as my dress,

long stockings that always wrinkled,

long handled underwear.

Being bundled up so I could hardly move.

Buster Brown hair cuts.

I am from starting school walking in sunshine, rain, or snow,

trying to see how high I could pump the swing

on the playground, teeter tottering the fastest,

liking spelling and arithmetic. Ivy Brown my first

playmate of the same age.

I am from Sioux City, Iowa