A poem by Seth Brenneman ('18)was published in the Winter 2011 edition of Edible Michiana (p. 38). Brenneman, who hopes to be a chef or professional basketball player, wrote the poem for a language arts assignment this year. His poem, I Am From, was inspired by George Ella Lyon's poem entitled "Where I'm From."

I Am From

I am from local food
From the fresh smell of a garden and picking tomatoes.
I am from the local meals on the table
And the smoky smell of the green egg.
I am from the kitchen making scrambled eggs
And from a fresh, green salad on the table with homemade dressing.
I am from a medium steak doused in A1 sauce (to his mom's dismay)
I am from farmers and nice restaurants.

I am from a Dallas Cowboys jersey, sitting in front of the TV after church.
I am from athletics and basketball
my dad standing under the basket telling me what to do.
I am from the court and trying to practice my form,
shooting over and over to perfect my shot.

I am from the orchard with the red and yellow apples.
From the smoke and the sound of the four-wheeler.
I am from sitting in the motor home hours on end,
different states and swimming in the ocean.
I am from family on Christmas and playing football in the snow-covered yard
with my uncles and cousins.

I am from my imagination in the backyard playing in the sandbox
From the sound of my mom on the phone trying to get the magazine done.
I am from the smell of waffles on Wednesday,
from the sweet taste of homemade syrup.

I am from the sound of the train at night,
from counting down the days of waiting for March Madness to come.
I am from a family game of basketball
from the sweat rolling down my face.

I am from family.
I am from Goshen, Indiana.