Poems of Introduction

My Initial Reaction to Writing a Poem of Introduction

Is this sufficient?

activist socialist anti-conformist humanist unionist populist

feminist pacifist atheist liberalist existentialist absurdist

No?  

You want something more--

more personal, you say?

Myers Briggs:

Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, Perception

StrengthsFinder:

Input, Intellection, Learner, Achiever, Focus

True Colors:

Green, Orange, Blue, Gold

Still not enough?

Something more--

something beyond labels, you say?

Be patient:

look,

listen,

and then maybe you’ll see.

Then The Typical “Where I’m From” Poem of Introduction

I am from a dog-shaped cookie jar,

from Nintendo Track and Field and sardines in mustard sauce.
I am from Main Street, Olive Street, Labette Terrace, Ash Street
(and don’t forget Main Street again).

I am from sauerkraut and silence,
from hard dumplings and game nights.
I am from Uncle Charlie perched on a motorbike
and Grandma Vivian in her rocking chair.

I am from the cold distance of Germany

and the stubborn righteousness of America.
I am from pitchers of too-sweet tea,
from cucumbers soaked in salt water.

I am from Catholics and Baptists,
from Episcopalians and Seventh Day Adventists.
I am lost at sea and in faith
(and rediscovered as an Atheist).

I'm from Lynyrd Skynyrd and Eric Clapton on vinyl,
from Dire Straits and Tina Turner on cassette,
from Pantera and Pearl Jam on CD,
and from Jack White and Alt-J on vinyl (again).

I’m from the woods my brother and I lost ourselves in,
from the sting of grandma’s belt after we were found,
from the gurgle of my parents’ waterbed draining,
and from the fiery inferno that consumed the dry wall.