Becoming Southern: 10 Autoethnographic Polaroids

Abstract

I call it “the great emptying.” This business of making and re-making of the self. The immigrant self, that is:

 I hold a bucket in my hand

  Piled high with memories

   Of Delhi, India,

   I begin Swirling,

  Swinging it over head

Holding in a deep-deep breath,

Throwing it out, away, as far as I can

   Back to where it belongs

    The past

I call it The Great Filling. This business of making and re-making of the self. The immigrant self, that is:

I hold a bucket in my hand

 Filling it with memories,

  Of Athens and Sapelo

   I begin swirling,

 Swinging it over my head

Holding in a deep deep breath

 Pouring it all over me

  Over My Place

  My Deep South