Today we read George Ella Lyon’s “Where I’m From” poem and explored how the places we come from impact our identities and help to shape us. We focused on how using details rooted in the five senses can make poems come alive and help to pull the reader into a scene. Below are some of the incredible pieces by Ms. Armstrong’s and Mr. Reinholdt’s 7th and 8th grade classes.
8th Grade Group 1
Where I’m From
Fernando M.
Where I’m from
the aroma of smoke fills the air
The old school car sits there so sad
with a brick in the middle of
the windshield.
The sound of crunching wrappers fills
our ears, the sound of bottles moving
from the wind echo through
the lonely streets.
The people arguing on the other side
of the house, the sounds of loud music
playing. Chief Keef covers the neighborhood
with his rhythms n beats.
The kids on they bikes racing
ona beat.
The sound of the police sirens ring
with beats from the streets.
I Come From
Laila F.
A long line of independent women
Where they do everything themselves.
Where my mom always makes red pozole,
where my grandma makes her own tortillas and tamales.
I smell the smoke of the salsa
I taste the spices
of the chile my Papi is making.
I feel my moms soft hair,
see the color she dyes her roots with.
I hear my brother blasting Slim Shady by Eminem
a song I grew up with.
I feel the ending of a sad book.
Where I Come From
Maya W.
I am from the scent of Fabuloso
every Sunday morning, from the
smell that roams the house of
my abuelita’s cooking, whether
it’s the smell of tortillas quemadas
or the spread of Goya seasoning
throughout the whole neighborhood of Pilsen,
that we smell from our traditional meals.
I am from the viejitas outside chismeando
about everyone but themselves,
Or the loud music coming from
the windows of the neighbors
Where I’m From
Jose P.
I’m from
a place where it’s dangerous
a place where it’s safe
where trains roar
and where dogs scream
this place is fun this place is boring
how the smell of pepian
absorbs the house
how the smoke flies
through the house
I’m from
the family that lays on the couch
how my cousins come every
Saturday
how I hear the Febreeze spray
an hour a day
how the soft touch of
the blanket is
the same as my dog’s fur
and where rats live
and the trees come back
to life every year
I Come From
Erik V.
Born in Hialeah Hospital
raised in Miami, I come from a family of five
from the family that split when I was three
A family that decided to start over three years after
we split.
I am from the virtual world, the world that
kept me at ease at any time,
from a family who have been through too much.
I am from a school, a school that half my life was spent
dealing with hardships,
from a place in which peace was brought a little too late.
De Donde Soy
Paola E.
Café tajadas, arroz con pollo
yo soy de Ambrosio Plaza
tu amor ruido de ollas
mama siempre cantaba
al lavar los platos
con desengrasante y
Zavaplatos
En Case vemos a nuestros
vecinos amigos amigas
al escuchar musica de Dios
Dicen que soy muy tranquila
y que no hablo tanto. Así soy.
Los Carnavales son muy divertidos
espero ser mayor de edad para irme
a mi pais.
8th Grade- Group 2
Where Are We From?
Amorosa M.
I come from the smell of fries
alpastor, churros
Where you can taste the burgers
tacos and pizza from it’s aroma.
The sensation of pushing that old cold black gate which sounds
like the rocking chair my grandmother
will sit on and smile.
The man who teaches literature with his
funky colorful clothes, and from above
he is seen with a bold. yellow poking mohawk.
Oh! You see that red castle next to you
each time you pass to get your happy meal
from McDonalds.
When the sun says bye, the train goes
and comes to greet you loud enough
to wake you up in the mornings,
and not let you sleep at night.
I come from the parties that start
at 5pm and never end. The tios drinking
and playing while the cousins
run and laugh.
The tias tallking/ well chismiando and
then the loud bang from the door opening
your favorite tio walking in and
screaming
“Desde el principio como dijo Juan Manuel!”
While carrying cajas of drinks and a
loud speaker he is holding on his
shoulder playing old Spanish music.
I Come From
Judith M.
I come from a house
sometimes messy
other times smelling like Fabuloso
I come from a house
with loud music in the mornings
and nights.
I come from a house
where there is arroz y frijoles to eat,
a home
where I feel safe and happy
a home
where I like to spend time in
Welcome to Venezuela
Mateo C.
From where I’m from
people are fun and nice/ they give you chocolates and cocosetes
people are good cooks,
people are protectful from gangs with many many rules.
Where I’m from, every morning
you wake up to the delicious food
like arepas and empanadas de queso.
But where I’m from
people aren’t always nice
they don’t always give you
food, sometimes they take
your stuff, your blood, your life
Welcome to Venezuela.
I come From Mexico
Liliana G.
I come from Mexico
Though I live in Chicago
My heart remains
in Mexico.
The human sized gate
the fence between cousins
the dogs fighting
Grandmas cooking early in the morning
My friend next door to my cousin
My uncles corner store
Pilsen
Stephanie H.
I come from Pilsen
Where soft hands greet each other
everyday, with the question asked
“Y tu mama, como esta?” from people
The smell of Pollo Express lingers
in the air on 18th Street to the point that you
even taste it.
Art is everywhere you turn. Colorful art.
Mexican moms chismiando at every corner
The soft breeze with warmness
Where I’m From
Karen P.
Where I’m from
there are kids playing and screaming and
people walking their dogs.
The scent of detergent all around the neighbor’s home.
The sound of cats fighting at night and
neighbors playing their loud music.
How soft my two cats feel when I pet them.
The taste of fresh baked cookies
me and my sister baked
and how soft and warm the cookies are
when they are straight out of the oven.
All these things are connected with where I’m from.
7th Grade
Pilsen
Kai G.
Pilsen, I’m from a place with loud people
lots of cars driving around
and people having fun.
I’m from a place with brick walls
and stones and restaurants all around.
Where I’m from, there’s all kinds of food
tacos, pizza or even just junk
Where I’m from,
there’s family and friends
all around.
Where I’m From
Arthur
I am from Pilsen, where the stray cats wander around.
I am from the scent of bread and conchas
going into my cup of milk.
I am from where the cars roam in
the streets and the grass blades move.
I am from those four blocks to get to Subway
and two blocks to Lia.
I am from my mom making pozole
and telling me to clean my room before I eat.
I am from where La Chona plays,
and the smell of Suavitel.
My Place in Chicago
Isabel H.
I come from Chicago
were each place you go is different
different air,
different people,
different languages.
But the memories that shaped
who I am is when I’m at
Arthur’s house. I feel safe there,
the people that shaped me
Arthur and Lia. I feel myself
around them.
Saturday, March 17, 2023,
me Arthur and Leah went
to the mall. We had fun. We went to the arcade.
Best day ever.
Pilsen
Demi R.
I come from…
from Pilsen where
alleys smell like alcohol
the smell of fresh paint from the murals on the sides of buildings
where everyone knows each other
where kids play
where the kids are growing up
Smelling the smell of weed
and the smell of tacos
and stepping in the steps of your parents.
Where I’m From!
Kawandas W.
I come from Chicago
I smell smoke from the trucks
I watch cars pass by
I hear people arguing and fussing
I smell toasty bread, eggs and bacon
I feel the warm breeze outside
I come from a tough childhood
I come from a rough neighborhood
Pilsen
Mya V.
I come from hot summers
from loud music and hot peppers
I come from catching lightning bugs
in my grandma’s backyard.
I am from swimming classes at Harrison
I am from waking up to
smelling Fabuloso
I am from running to the ice cream truck
