This is a wonderful and thoughtfully written “Where I’m From” poem. It’s so real, so natural and still manages to use a masterful variety of poetic techniques like alliteration, repetition, imagery, etc… Enjoy this A+ poem and mouse over the footnotes for my comments.

** I REMEMBER **

Looking back, I remember[D1]

My childhood as

Pigtails

And hula hoops

And trips to the zoo.

Summers full of fun,

Sunny days, and mosquito bites.

I remember climbing the neighbors' gigantic rocks surrounded by dandelions.

Jumping from them always resulted in skinned knees.

[D2] I remember lemonade stands that lasted until the lightning [D3] bugs came out.

The swing set, baby pool, and sand box decorated the back yard.

There was always an never-ending supply of popsicles.

I remember in the fall, there were trees which littered jumping leaves.

There was always school and, of course, Trick-or-Treat.

I remember the highlight of winter was always snow.

Playing in the snow was one of the greatest things in life.

I remember sledding,

Snow men,

Snow angels,

Snow forts,

And snow tunnels.

[D4] Looking back, I remember

Grandma's around-the-world [D5] house,

Baking cookies,

Saturday morning Sesame Street,

And playing with pots and pans.

I feel as if all of these memories are cobwebs being swept from my mind.

I remember always having an infinite number of pets and loving them all.

I remember playing with neighborhood friends.

There was bike riding and always some "House" to be played.

Jump ropes and hoppity-hops.

Dirt and mud were required.

Looking back, I remember my childhood being happy and sad.

There were incidents seen as catastrophes through a child's mind and great achievements[D6] .

I remember being little and I know it was one of the best times in my life.

---

[D1]Here’s her hook.

[D2]Note the simple and well-developed detail. Clearly, this author LIVED this poem; the detail is authentic and real.

[D3]Alliteration!

[D4]Wonderful passage. Notice her use of shortened, parallel lines, repetition, alliteration.

[D5]Nice.

[D6]Notice how the author is able to create a sort of overwhelming sensation at the end of her poem, as if she is daydreaming about her past. This is such a great way to end this kind of poem, by reflecting the kind of thought that occurs when we reminisce.