I am from Lori Sue and Kevin Shaw,

Nana and my mom’s dad,

Grandma and my dad’s dad.

From Big Nana and Nana in the Apartment

I am from the Porters, the Koontzs,
The Fitzmaurices, the Shaws.

 

I am from the hills of Ireland,

And the plains of Hungary.

From Germany, England

Scotland and Canada.

From Prince Edward Island

And Sebago Lake.

From Shaw Road

And the sticks of Maine.

From my aunt’s house

Built by my many-greats grandfather in 1790,

And a farmhouse way down in Georgia.

 

I am from turkey eaters,

And mint addicts,

And debater eaters,

And meat eaters,

And beer loving men.

From extreme milk consumers

And Nachos every Sunday.

 

I am from love, joy,

But also surprise and unexpected.

From people who love to read,

And be together,

And play music,

And watch historical movies.

 

I am from “Who do you think I am,

The Shell Answer Man?”

And “What’s wrong with you?”

And “I love you.”

 

I am from unfaithful non-church goer Christians

And from loyal, loving, feuding, and accepting people.

From violinists, pianists and flutists.

From travelers, hard workers and givers.

From a police officer, WWII veterans, a history fanatic--

But mostly from three generations of telephone operators.

 

I am from milk, etch-a-sketch,

“I’m Yours,” and a toyota.

I am from blue jays, felines,

And a snow leopard.

I am from Toby Keith and Train.

 

I am from people who named me Alexis,

But also from people who call me

Lexie, Lex, and Lexo,

And P.F., Ms. Portion, and Petrie

 

I am running barefoot in the rain,

From running home before a hurricane,

From swinging at Riverton School,

And staying up with friends until seven in the morning.

From telling stories around a campfire.

From swimming in the middle of Sebago Lake,

And from eating meals together around a big table.

I am from a multitude of people

Who contributed their lives to mine.