Where I’m From 

I am from soft blankets,

and from Swiss miss hot chocolate and marshmallows.

I am from the cozy, brick house on the end of the dead end street

I am from the lilies and succulents,

I am from one Christmas present at twelve a.m.

and clumsiness.

From the Hoods,

the Grenions and more.

I am from the hard workers

and the givers.

I’m from Manhasset, NY, Guyana and Antigua,

from warm peppa pot on Christmas morning.

From the toddler version of myself being the boss of my dad,

and the toddler version of myself making him sit down and watch cartoons with me while a

party was going on outside.

From my sister trying alcohol for the first time, not being able to hold it at all.

I am from the picture books and binders, the picture frames placed delicately in our home

The pictures highlighting the major and passing moments of our lives,

My mom graduating from college,

My sister holding me,

My grandma, mom, and sister smiling before I was ever a thought

and my mom embracing two of her girls.

I am from followspots,

From theater chairs and marley floors.

I am from the bright orange fridge, almost neon

I am from the California evergreens,

the community lake with the all day all night party and the saturday morning drum circles

I am from shabbos

and big noses,

from Piro Shalom

And the hippie revolution

I am from the impulsivity

and music.

From “making plans for nigel”

and “brick house”

I am from the 4 hour seder every spring

But not from the temple

I’m from Oakland and from a lost ancestry

Never discussed

Street tacos and strong coffee

From the oregon communes in 1969,

the the acid and the grateful dead and the Janis Joplin as God,

and the protest arrests with Joan Baez and a different husband each time.

I am from that bright orange, almost neon fridge

With my two brothers and my sister

And my grandfather who passed 

smiling at us with a pipe in his mouth and a beer in his hand

At his happiest

I am from Notebook

from desk and pen

I am from the concrete streets

I am from the Dandelion on the sidewalk

the Bright yellow color

I am from movie night

and black hair

from Sofia

and Faham another family name and Maryam

I am from the self-awareness

and compassion

From belief in myself

and self-accountability

I am from Islam and worship of God

Further description.

I am from New York and Nigeria

Rice and plantains

From my first day of elementary

the kind teachers

and the Day of my Sofia’s birth

I am from the wall in the living room

I am from
Pelles and North Faces
I am from a high altitude but I was raised in the Boogie Down
I am from the sidewalks, cracked by roots from trees
the squirrels live in
I am from consistently good potato salad on thanksgiving
and family that I don’t always see eye to eye but still coexist with.
From Sylvia
and Carlos
I am from the tendency to overthink
and end up doing nothing
From being told to sit still
and to keep going still
I am from Catholic school and mass
But I’m also from a place where loving your neighbor is hard sometimes
I’m from Ecuador,
From ceviche and empanadas
From the hard work of an orphan who left a lot to show for it,
from the patience
and care his daughter has raised me with
I am from long flights with mom and grandma,
That got me where I’m from to where I’m from

I am from the stars

From the universe and beyond.

I am from the jungle.

I am from the cooksonia, the first

I am from the battle

and the deceitfulness from Ali and Allison and the vassel’s 

I am from the war and emptiness,

From never being like him 

and preventing the cycle.

I am from the agnostic.

One who wants to further expand their knowledge, in the belief that the norms are untrue.

I’m from the Caribbean, residing in the home of the big apple,

Jerk and Crawfish.

From the agony the father caused, constantly abusing his family,

the trauma he left as his legacy

and the unguided child that has taken in the wrong mindset.

I am from Florida, watched by the monsters that rule the lake,

Who claim their territory and wait for their prey.

I am from school uniforms,

from maple syrup mornings and paper bag lunches.

I am from grass covered feet and swimming pool days.

I am from the front yard dandelions, 

the back yard weeds.

I am from Dr. Seuss stories

and green eyes,

from Tracy and John and Ella.

I am from big brothers

and piano serenades.

From car seat karaoke

and cousin talent shows.

I am from Wednesday ashes

and face washes.

I’m from fields of green I’ve not seen.

from St. Patrick’s day feasts and chocolate cupcakes.

From summer fires on the beach,

the sand crabs, the sunburns, and long drives home.

I am from bookshelf photo albums and birthday wishes of happy returns.

I am from my Abuelita,

From where bachata is heard far and wide,

I am from a land that shimmers like gold, 

Where the sun glimmers , 

Touching the nation and sea year round.

I am from the beach,

As the sand sweeps between our feet, while the saltwater

Splashes against the heat.

I am from the Guira and Guitarra

The soothing rhythmic beats that make up our hearts.

Even the roosters sing and have their part.

I am from Tres leches

The only place where one kind of milk isn’t enough,

For our cakes

I am from the land of the Lord,

Where we give praises everyday 

With family and grace..

I am from the Dominican Republic,

From Queso frito to caramel cakes.

Our foods unite us and who we strive to be 

I am from the love that keep us together 

Through joy and tragedy.

Gods got us, fully.

For he only is my rock and my salvation,

My fortress.

…

I am from 50 cent chips from the corner store ,

from big buildings and cars.

I am from the childhood memory apartment, fun, big, loud.

I am from the red roses, pink carnations, sun the representation of love.

I am from annual family cookouts and thick hair

From Daddy and Mommy.

I am from the caring for people like grandma and my love for music like Daddy

From “You look just like your Mom ” and “You play music just like your Dad”.

I am from Christianity believing in Jesus Christ

I am from Brooklyn New York and North Carolina , sweet potato pie and fried chicken

From the time my parents met , the passing of my grandmother

I am from a place where everyone looks out for each other.

i am from a apple

from pizza and hot dogs

i am from bricks and brownstones

i am from the lilac bushes

the pretty tall trees

the leaves on the ground

i am from family dinners on Sundays and laughs and great times

from Marshall singleton and Linda Shobey

from Richard Dowe

i am from Christianity beliefs and southern hospitality

from always wanting to be the best and look the best

i am from the Baptist churches

im from brooklyn new york with south carolina roots

from black eye peas and collard greens

from near to death experience

the tramua and heartbreak of almost losing my father in a car accident

to the turn around of him being well and alive til this day

to my growth to strive to be a better person everyday

from never taking life for granted

losing my grandfather back in 2017

i am from summerton sc my deep route