Where I’m From #10

By Elizabeth Heise

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from tumbleweeds

From brewer’s yeast and goldenseal

I am from a little white house on Quiet Lane,

peeling stucco, a deep blue sky, the heavy scent of sage

I am from red chile growing wild behind Ramona’s house

don't rub your eyes or you’ll be sorry

I’m from living with want and joking about the worst of it

I’m from Michael and Kathleen

From no one saying sorry and doing the hard things alone

From “name the person you expect to clean that up” and “I’m running out the door”

I’m from Sunday school at Temple Albert to a pitstop at Unity with Jesus before everything

changed

I’m from San Francisco and Albuquerque

sourdough bread and green chile stuffed sopaipillas at Little Anita’s Takeout Window with

change from between the sofa cushions

From the Leffert Uncertainty Factor

The disappearing mother

baby pictures stuffed in a wrinkled yellow envelope and lost forever

From allowing the painful edges to smooth like sea glass and become something beautiful

Where to find Elizabeth:

Website: https://elizabethheise.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethheise.coach/

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/