Alyson Shelton & Anonymous

Where I’m From #14By Alyson Shelton Inspired by George Ella LyonI am from bathing suits,From Ragu and Chanel No. 5.I am from sandy feet.(Gritty, crunchy on the floor and in my mouth,Proof of daily joys.)I am from kelp, wrapped around my ankles,scaring friends, but never me.I’m from a lead foot on the accelerator andmaking family jokes out of fresh wounds, the ones that still ache with shame,From Aunt Joyce and Uncle Jim.I’m from No Pain, No Gains andYou’ll be FINE.I’m from No Man Will Ever Love YouAnd You’re Too Smart for Your Own Good.I’m from New Age Spirituality and lapsed Catholicism.Word Salad dressed with self-loathing.I’m from tough Pioneer stock and amnesiac immigrants,the details of their stories willfully forgotten.I’m from freshly squeezed carrot juice andthe blast of Binaca Spray inexpertly used to coverup Coronas and bong hits.From my brother, who fell from a cliff and died to another brother who was shot in the face and lived1In my closet, stacked and organized sit my early memories, showing me how we onceappeared whole, performing a certain type of affluent, effortless togetherness.I search beyond the pictures to remind myselfthat our far flung pieces and their inability to approach whole now, is not my fault.It never was.Where I’m FromBy AnonymousInspired by George Ella LyonI am from an art desk.From Coors and Windsor NewtonI am from the sun-kissed, come home when the street lights come on Balboa of the 70s.I am from sandy shores, pelicans and endless horizon linesI’m from Sunday brunch and life-long friendsFrom Cookie and BriI’m from tear stained pillow cases, unsaid feelings and joyfully singing, “Hello” to hide it allFrom “deal with it life isn’t fair” and “do not stop pass go”I’m from kneel, sit, genuflect and robes soaked in incenseI’m from Golden Gates, hills, trolleys and four leaf cloversI’m from burrito mixings in the fridge and maxed credit lines at TW MarketI’m from alcoholism, hidden sexuality and broken hearts with enough love and happy memories to out-shine it all.Where to find Alyson:Website: https://www.alysonshelton.comSubstack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/