Where I'm From

Alyson Shelton

Where I’m From poems inspired by George Ella Lyon featuring all kinds of phenomenal writers, hosted by Alyson Shelton.

  1. 16h ago

    Lynn Shattuck

    Where I’m From #44 By Lynn Shattuck Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from rainforest And no road out From sharp mountaintops and silver water I am from Nowell Avenue, where my entire universe once lived: Godparents, aunt, uncle and cousins, best friend and babysitters I am from sliding glass back doors, always open Seven-Up and Triscuits And slivers of summer I am from strong women: Pilot, poet, spitfire, survivor And hard-working men I am from moss-laden forest And moon boots And trick candles on my birthday cake I am from bikes with no helmets, no sunscreen, no helicopter parents I’m from “Figure it out,” and, “Be home by dinner time.” I am from stacks of books that swept me away And the stories I wove to soothe myself to sleep And rain-drenched pine I am from rambling black bears And homesick salmon I am from the land of the Tlingit and Haida Where Raven stole the sun, moon and stars And most everything Possesses a spirit I am from rusting gold mines Being swallowed into the mountain Because the earth takes everything back If you wait long enough I am from chaos and calm From blueberry-stained fingertips And snow forts built on nights so cold I could smell the stars. Where to find Lynn: Website: https://www.lynnlshattuck.com/ Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    31 min

  2. Jun 30

    Heather Frese

    Where I’m From #43 By Heather Frese Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from cedar closets, From Sun-In and orange Cheeto dust. I am from the covered bridge in the park, paintworn, children rolling in the green grass underneath. I am from the honeysuckle wafting along the rail trail whose goldensweet tendrils I remember as if they were my own. I am from Sunday morning tennis matches, holding service on the court, From Otto and Edna, Paul and Geraldine I’m from the empaths and the artists and the man who put out fires, From “you can’t push a rope but you sure can pull it,” And “close the door; we don’t need to air condition all of Edgeworth Addition.” I’m from the tallest steeple in town on the Methodist church—First United, From the alps and the moors From meatloaf suppers and homemade purple icy slush from the concord grapes on my grandpa’s trellis. I’m from the woman who laundered the rich man’s clothes, so wet they steamed and steamed. In a closet in Ohio, not a cedar one anymore, in plastic boxes and Rubbermaids, my pigtails yellow in the photos, scattering me across time. Where to find Heather: Website: https://heatherfrese.com/ Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    38 min

  3. Jun 23

    Melissa Meloro

    Where I’m From #42 By Melissa Meloro Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from books, From Italian Ice, brown, low-pile carpet, and a big stack of records I am from the downstairs room where I keep a bucket of toys, including an old cast from my arm, smelly and covered in faded 2nd grade signatures. I am from the warm, never-bending rule of Family First And original performances created with a dozen cousins I am from freshly cut bluegrass mowed in the summer (its tidy stripes brought my sweaty father pride) I am from an R2D2 action figure, and a sticker from my grandma that says ERA NOW. From DeenPatriceMarthaAmyNancyJennifer and DanielMichaelJosephVincenzoChristopher I’m from Wear Something Appropriate, not that, that’s not appropriate And Do the right thing. Think of how lucky you are. I am from light the menorah and put it up there so you don't set the Christmas tree on fire Take a picture, you have to take a picture, you don’t want to forget From tomato sauce and chicken cutlets From a desk in a freezer in the meat packing district where my grandfather worked the phones and from my mother standing in front of a Board of Education facing reprimand ...for wearing pants Cutting perfect circles in pasta dough with a juice glass I am from the moments cooked in kitchens, documented in photos stored in boxes, labeled with pens, kept in wallets, reminding us. You don’t want to forget. Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    32 min

  4. Jun 16

    Katie Colt

    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/

    38 min

  5. Jun 9

    Eileen Drennen

    Where I'm From #40 By Eileen Drennen Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from books shelved floor-to-ceiling, reading for hours  and making notes in the margins.  From crunchy buttered hard rolls and good Jewish rye, Tea with cream and sugar and jugs of Gallo wine. I’m from the three-story Victorian bought for a song,  From Lemon Pledge and orange Formica, Stained glass laughter and door-slammed tears.   I’m from Lily of the Valley and velvet moss,  From purple lilac bouquets and copper beeches to climb. I’m from “you kids are skating on thin ice” and “I love you more” From hand-me-downs and kitchen sink perms,  From “Daddy didn’t mean what he said” and “Mommy’s in the hospital again.” I’m from blue chlorine summers and icy snow-fort winters,  From Mozart and Motown, ballads and the Beatles. I’m from D.A. and M. Eileen, typewriters and syllabi,  leather missals and rosaries. From know-it-alls and bleeding hearts,  Dreaming of one life while living another. I’m from crisp Holy Communion dresses and fish sticks on Fridays. From Queens and Manhattan and a string of Hudson River towns; From Connollys and Reids, Kearneys and Carews. I’m from lucky stones in pocketbooks and wishbones on windowsills. From the legs my mother can’t trust and the stack my father blows and blows and blows. I’m from tin boxes of studio portraits and snapshots from Ireland,  From pictures of my parents as babies, and teens. And the one and only photograph of my family all together On Prince Edward Island, in 1964.  I’m from the eight-year-old in pigtails with a brother who’s six,  From sisters who are 2 and 10 and 11 and 12. I’m from the smiling Dad who orchestrated our only vacation And the Mom who, years later, made sure we each had a copy, To remember where we’re from. Where to find Eileen: Website: https://www.eileendrennen.com/ Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    34 min

  6. Jun 2

    Kassie J. Runyan

    Where I'm From #39 By Kassie J. Runyan Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from a child’s dream Formed of stars and sheep I am from yesterday’s home Always changing, painting patterns on the wall, And smelling like lavender I am from the dirt in the ground As it runs through my fingers And I imagine what it will grow I am from music being sung in every room From the lips of my mother and father I am formed by dancing in the living room And dreaming through the words of the storybooks From the whisper that I can be who I was meant to be And create my own future I am from a realist and a dreamer, Given a foot in both worlds I am from gypsies living under the stars And the worn hands of farmers far from home I am from names written in worn out letters On pages cut from old newspapers And hidden in a record player That travels from home to home I am from a line on a tree That grew for years Each leaf impacting the life I would dream All those years ago Where to find Kassie: Website: https://www.kassiejrunyan.com/ Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    29 min

  7. May 26

    Kim Rowe

    Where I’m From #38 By Kim Rowe Inspired by George Ella Lyon I’m from window air conditioners, from Happy Meals and Rainbow Brite. I’m from the hills in every direction. (Verdant, rolling, a compromise between the jutting, coal-rich Appalachias to the Southwest and the horizontal, swampy farmland of Jersey to the Northeast.) I’m from the peonie bush the persimmon tree whose fruit I loved because I loved my grandpop. I’m from homemade cherry pie and arms heavy with shopping bags from Saturday at the mall, from Alberta and Clayton. I’m from the bursting laughter and the rage on the road, from you’re smarter than the average bear only child expectations and sliced onions in your socks for a fever. I’m from As I lay me down to sleep grace, even out to eat, and the pettiness of sin and a vindictive God. I’m from Goulds and Smith Holler, sausage gravy breakfasts and Old Bay dusted blue crab afternoons. From dinners by dad at 5pm sharp after construction work, From a 90s woman in a hungry corporate world. In my mom’s highboy dresser there were stacks of important papers, among them my certificate of birth, race marked as black, though my hair and skin could only partially succeed, even in the height of summer’s humidity and melanin’s rise. All these disparities, negotiated in dreams before my flesh came to be. I am from those moments of compromise, of the north and the south, Black and White and the family tree. Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    34 min

  8. May 19

    Nisha Mody

    Where I’m From #37 By Nisha Mody Inspired by George Ella Lyon I am from hair oil,from Amla and coconut.I am from the carpet beneath my mom’s bed where I sat as my mom applied it on my hair.(oatmeal colored, burbur, unforgiving)I am from the bouganvilleamagenta, my mom’s dream flower,also known as the paper flower which I just learned is edible. I'm from snacky dinners and anxiety,from Nalini and Himat.I'm from the criticismsand act like nothing happened,from You don’t listen! and No!I'm from Jai Shree Krishnawhich you better say before you hang up the phone. I'm from Arlington Heights and the Mody’s and Sheth’s,tomato gantya nu shak and cha.From the drive home from Devon Street aka Little India in Chicago where my mom got excited seeing a sign at a produce market advertising lychees on sale for 1.49 so when we went in searching and searching, only for me to realize that the sign said “leche” and we were in a Mexican produce market. Where to find Nisha: Website: https://www.nishaland.com/ Where to find Alyson: Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/

    36 min
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About

Where I’m From poems inspired by George Ella Lyon featuring all kinds of phenomenal writers, hosted by Alyson Shelton.

Information

  • Creator
    Alyson Shelton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Alyson Shelton