I Am From…

By: Mary Hovey

I am from the last of three girls.

all Southern Belles.

I am from biscuits and gravy,

cornbread, black eyed peas, and collard greens.

I am from chicken fried steak, and red beans and rice.

I am from crawfish boils and Lassez le Bon Tomps Roler

I am from eggs over easy and butter in grits.

I am from the melting pot of the United States.

I am from a signer of the Declaration of Independence

and the bush whackers of the Natchez Trace.

I am from singers at the Grand Old Opry

and from Bonnie and Clyde.

I am from the Daughter’s of the American Revolution

and the Daughter’s of the Alamo

I am from a house for a horse

and from the tradition of the Texas Rangers.

I am from the Piney Woods of East Texas

to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.

I am from Oilfield trash, Air Force Pride, lumber mill workers,

cotton field pickers, hay bailers, chicken house cleaners,

and what ever it took to get by.

I am from back woods deals and

Church socials on Sundays

I am from a family of five

the last of thee girls

I am from a new family of five

with two boys and a girl

I am from Texas stock, Louisiana born,

and am a New Mexico transplant

I am from USL, SJC, and UNM.

I am from a Kindergarten class where I

teach twenty-one eager faces.

I am from a strong family

full of History

and Most Importantly, I am from

saved by Grace, growing in faith, and

walking in the word.