Memory List

Memory List

I have always loved a list poem. One of my favorites is George Ella Lyon’s Where I’m From. I have written in response to this poem countless times since moving to Kentucky in 1994 – several times with the poet herself and I am forever grateful that I was able to give the gift of writing with her to my son as well as so many of my students. Where I’m From was always a part of my What If unit but I think I started to take it for granted until Sean Corbin asked us to list where we are from to introduce ourselves for our first Poetry Gauntlet session. This activity unearthed memories of Morehead Writing Project Where I’m From collaborations so I chose to center the opening round of our first Teen Writers Day Out since Fall 2019 in this very grounded writing activity. I hope you will find as much rich inspiration as I did from this invitation and some of the writing that resulted from it:

Write in your notebook: I am a writer from then list 5-10 specific items that represent important memories from your childhood and family. George Ella Lyon includes trees and bushes, eye glasses and fudge, places and people by name or motto. Note: Adults do not need to restrict themselves to childhood. I’m contemplating doing something similar for different stages of life.
Students then selected items from their list to introduce themselves using this form: My name is [Deanna Mascle] and I am a writer from [raspberry brambles and crates of potatoes in a cinderblock barn; jumping from the hayloft with Nancy, David, John, and Debbie; and playing spotlight tag until the neighbors complained]. Note: I also gave students this example: I am from raspberries, potatoes, and purple pansies raising their faces to the sun; chunky applesauce, noonday fire sirens; and mittens connected by a string up my sleeve.
After more work on their individual lists, students worked in groups to write collaborative poems which we shared in a gallery walk.

Another very simple but powerful approach to this writing invitation was inspired by Stephen King in The Stand. When a pandemic destroys her world, Fran Goldsmith begins a diary to her unborn child to chronicle the birth of a new world and she always includes a Things to Remember section which often includes very mundane and trivial items. However, the beauty of that invitation is helping us remember and record those specific details about a time, a person, an event that is important to remember.

What memories can you inventory for your writing? If you need more inspiration check out: