Where I'm From

I belong to a writing group called South Side Quills. I wrote this for our latest assignment.......

Where I’m From

I’m from Jackson and Clayden

From Bilbarin, Corrigin, Kulyaling and Moorumbine

The big kitchen table

And the long back yard at my grandmothers

The outhouse under the weeping trees in the dark

Singing with my sister on the wooden bench under the kitchen window

The gravel footpath.

Gum trees and wheat fields

The cellar under the yard filled with jars of fruit

And the loving embrace of my Aunt.

I’m from Rivervale, Tranby and Belmont

And the inviting smell of a new reading book

The pathway through the bush garden

And a boy named Tony whose father was hanged.

I am from a teacher who frightened me from my sums

Skipping in the playground until the Tranby ship’s bell rang.

And wanting to go to dancing lessons with my Russian friend Anna

With the long name that no-one could spell.

I am from the diesel on my father

And the prickles on his chin

Climbing up to sit beside him in the big tanker truck.

The feel of crushing grapes between my fingers

And the big pot of grape jam on the wood stove.

I’m from the knitting on my mother’s knee

And the treadle sewing machine on the back veranda.

Her singing that filled the house

The pictures that she drew

And listening to her recite Banjo Patterson.

I am from books borrowed from the travelling library van

And sitting on the floor in the cool of the passage way reading on a hot summer’s day.

Running under the sprinkler

And the delicious strawberry nectar of a push up icecream.

The cubbie under the wattle tree

And flying up into the air on the swing on the back shed.

I am from the sound of the milk-cart horse in the early morning

The roar of the cockeyed bob that lifted our roof

Pulling down a Guide tent in the rain while the earthquake cracked!

The front row seat at Oliver Twist and the smiles of the actors just for me.

I am from burnt toast and sloppy cabbage

Lemon meringue pie and Sunday roast

Afternoon tea in a floral tea-set

And buying icecream buckets with my father at the drive-in.

I am from the feel of the hymn book in my gloved hands

As I gaze up at the stained glass of the Wesleyan church

dreaming of my wedding day.

I am from teenage love

And two boys

The eldest unfairly forced to grow up at the age of two

because of a world turned upside down by Down Syndrome

Feeling different because of the label on my forehead that everyone can see.

I am from a life changing accident

Two precious perfect grandsons

The passion of a dragon boat

and selfish stolen moments.

I am from the camera in my hand

And the images and words in my head.

Bush walks and wildflowers and travelling through my country.

And learning too late who I want to be.

I am

By Jill Harrison

September 2011

some more Western Australian wild flowers from our recent trip..........

I'm linking up to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. To enjoy the work of Mary and other wonderful photographers, please click on the link - Mosaic Monday
I am also linking up to Kim Klassen and her Beyond Layers Course - click here - Beyond Layers

Have a wonderful week. Perhaps you would like to write your own "Where I'm From"

To see more images from our trip go to my post - hopetoun-fitzgerald-river-national-park
 I hope to bring you more images soon - once I've sorted through them!

You can also see my posts - 52 weeks touring around Western Australia - here - Tour Western Australia
A blog I have created from our travels over a number of years around our amazing state of Western Australia.