Where I’m from
men came to work in the factories
northerners and southerners lived together in the same neighborhood
and worked together in the same plant
building the machines that allowed the American way of life
the machines of transportation and status, the automobile
Where I’m from
the factory where Rosie The Riveter built B29 Liberator Bombers
still casts a shadow on our neighborhood
and later expanded to employ my father
to paint Corvairs
Where I’m from
you could wave to pilots landing at the airport by the factory
as they flew low over your house
you would sit on your roof for summer airshows
and watch The Blue Angels soar over your head
followed seconds later by their sound
Where I’m from
you knew your neighbors
parents said, “go outside and play.”
children played until the street lights came on
the signal to come home
Where I’m from
streets were named after car companies
Studebaker, Desoto, Buick, Chevrolet
each lined with rows of similar small houses
built to house blue collars
Where I’m from
you walked to the neighborhood school
or rode your bike
and lived for recess
Where I’m from
you ran the neighborhood
then you ran home to get change
when you heard Gus the Ice Cream Man’s truck
Where I’m from
you walked up to the church on the corner on Sunday
and played in the field next to it Monday through Saturday
neighborhood sports in the summer
ice skating on a flooded-field rink in the winter
Where I’m from
you swam in an above-ground backyard pool
you learned to play guitar
you did homework after school before going out to play
you said please and thank you
you had birthday parties
Where I’m from
you sat outside in the shade
because the house was hot in the summer
Where I’m from
you had adventures
you did things you shouldn’t have and some you should
you learned to kiss on the next street over
you were bored, you had fun, you cried, you got in trouble,
you laughed, you learned, you grew
Where I’m from
you didn’t realize how evil people could be
you didn’t understand power and corruption and hate
you lived in innocence
you were allowed to be a child
you were loved
Where I’m from
the factory is now closed
so is the school
the neighbors who remain are elderly
Where I’m from
is still there
but no longer exists
except in fond memories
You're bringing back memories for me, the entire 'feeling' of when we grew up was of innocence, trust, community. Times have changed drastically but maybe it's different only because I'm growing older.
Great Job. The pictures really add to your poem. Things I remember from your poem. Blue Angles, Go outside and play until the signal to come home, "you did things you shouldn’t have and some you should".
Thanks for a good read to begin my day.