Where I’m From

Where I’m from

Evelyn Garcia

I am from  Tacos,

from corn flour and meat.

I am from the big white house with a lot of flowers.

I am from the pink and red roses,

The big green tree

I am from celebrating quinceaneras to celebrating the Virgin Guadalupe

and making jokes to giving/getting advice,

from Alberta

and Tomas and Jaime.

I am from the loudness of music 

and eating dinner together.

From “ahi comida en la casa”(*there’s food in the house*)

and “Te calmas o te calmo”(*You calm down or I calm you down*).

I am from Catholicism.

I’m from Brooklyn, NY and Puebla, Mexico

Mole with orange rice and Tamales verdes.

From the story of why my mom left my dad,

To the mischievous things I did as a child,

and the story of how my mom became a strong independent woman/mother.

I am from the big frames in the living room hanging from the wall.

Where I’m from

jayleen ramirez

I am from the greca-where my family makes their coffee,

from cafe Bustelo and everyone’s very own specific coffee cups.

I am from a small, homey, Bronx apartment, from the green wall and black leather couches to the big brown table that would always smell like lemon.

I am from the agaves growing on the washer in the kitchen,

the plants my grandma loved more than anyone, that grew to the top of our ceiling and covered the kitchen window.

I am from opening Christmas presents at midnight on the 24th.

And a family that all had crooked fingers,

from Doña 

and Titi Ana and Mimi.

I am from a loud 

and loving, caring family.

From the saying “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no se sanas hoy, se sanaras manana” every time my cousin and I got hurt, 

and from everyone telling us to enjoy our childhood years, how we will regret saying we wanted to be adults.

I am from the love of sneakers.

I am from The Bronx and the Dominican Republic, 

From Rice with chicken and beans and Mangu with salami.

From the commitment of a grandmother who stepped up to take care of her granddaughter,

the caring uncle who listened,

and the aunt who cared for me as one of her own.

I am from the frames held up in my grandmother’s hallway, the family photos in her album at the bottom of her closet, from my mom’s mac computer that held all of our favorite videos of one another, that cherished so many beautiful memories of ours.

Where I’m From

Gabriela Diaz

I am from a city that never sleeps

Buildings as tall and far as your dreams

From frozen winter winds

Crisp inviting autumns

That don’t linger long enough

Fresh plantains and fish on a beach

Views of clear beaches and chairs in the sand

Motorcycles at every turn

And mango trees behind the family house

I am from Dominican Republic

Of scorpions and berries

Hair that smells of honey and is as purple as my aura

Warm beige skin that soaks up the sun

Hands as cold as Antarctic sea

I am from Grace and Peace

“Where I’m From”

Calvin

“Where I’m From”

I am from jade,

from curry and porridge.

I am from the brick walls, dirty and cracking chipping to the floor.

I am from the dandelions,

the petals in the wind

I am from filial love

and compassion,

from Peggy 

and Choong and Cheung.

I am from the discipline

and kindness.

From dreams

and realities.

I am of no concrete belief.

Further description.

I’m from Brooklyn,

roti and tripe.

From the choice to move to America,

the birth of a family in a foreign place,

and the dreams of a family to see to fruition.

I am from playing outside the house, loving eyes watching from my home.

Where I’m From

Matthew Ramchand

I am from photos,

from gold  and sugar

I am from the whirring of an engine early in the morning

I am from the vegetables in my grandmas garden,

the bamboo on my windowsill. 

I am from Chrismas’ and Thanksgivings at my grandma’s house

and loud laughs that echo,

from my mother and father.

I am from perseverance

From “you better greet everyone in the room with a kiss or hug.”

I’m from Queens,

From seven curry and sweet rice.

From the swinging in hammocks in the backyard,

the cousin sleepovers,

and the startling weekend mornings of loud soca and cleaning.

I am from dusty albums in my grandma’s attic.

“Where I’m From”

Shanaya G Lawrence

I am from a metallic bracelet,

from Salsa Lizano and Pinito.

I am from the yellow walls, wine rug in the living room, and ceramic tile stairs.

I am from the lime tree,

the water apple tree, and the coconut tree in the backyard.

I am from eating Rice and Beans con Pollo every sunday

and dark brown eyes,

from Egbert 

and Eva and Steycie.

I am from the always being right

and having the last word.

From “Yes” 

and “If I come back and you are not done with your food, I’ll eat it.”

I am from no specific religion.

I’m from Centro Central Limon and Central America,

rice and beans.

From the time I was five years old and scared everyone making them believe I wasn’t home when I actually fell asleep under the bed,

the first and last time my grandfather picked me up from school,

and the first time I met my mother in person.

I am from the plastic bags in my grandmother’s closet, the albums under the TV in my mother’s room, and my father’s external hard drive. Places where precious memories are kept for us to always come back to and never forget.

Where I’m From

Desire Acevedo

I am from an island where cocoa is produced, has coconuts palm, 

and the beaches are clear blue.

From Induveca salami and president beer. 

I am from the house with a medlar tree in the front, smells like cinnamon, and has two floors. 

I am from the rose of bayahibe and the Cigua palmera,

The coffee plantations, Carnival of La Vega. 

I am from sweet beans,

and tanned skins.

From Mr. Acevedo,

and Mrs. Vasquez, and Abreu.

I am from the parties,

and dances .

From don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today, 

and every night kids must pray 

I am from Catholics and go on Sundays to the church. 

I’m from Dominican Republic and Fritos con chicharron.

From the woman getting married and leaving her parents a note,

the kids being punished for throwing a glass on the floor. 

I am from the photos in my grandmother’s hallway

From doctors and business women where they were taught family worth it.

Where I’m From

Trinasia Harper

I am from glass tables,

from Lysol and Febreze.

I am from the small taupe apartment, which smells of cigarette smoke and vanilla  

I am from the snake plant,

the golden gate

I am from family reunions

and stubbornness,

from Pat

and Troy and Andrea.

I am from the unwillingness to get along

and the resistance to change.

From “just get it next time”

and “you can’t be perfect”

I am from a strong but sometimes wavering belief in a higher power.

I’m from New York and uncertain origins,

Chicken and Chocolate cake.

From the dedication of a mother to raise her children as well as someone else’s,

the supportive father who worked hard to provide,

and the unrelenting will to survive.

I am from the always messy yet somehow neat photo. Although the pictures fade and the pages start to age the memories held within them will always remain

Where I’m From

Shakhrizoda Sadriddinova

I am from strawberry that you dip into chocolate,
from cakes and delicious treats.
I am from the borough of Brooklyn, a small, cozy house, filled with the aroma of vanilla cake
I am from the baby roses,
the miniature roses, barely found in flower stores
I am from vacations spent in my hometown
and cute dimples on cheeks,
from grandma Malika
and Mr. Shukhrat and Mrs. Shakhnoza.
I am from a white Asian
and brown-green eyes.
From never giving up
And achieving your goal
I am from praying five times a day.
I’m from a family whose half Tajik and half Uzbek,
Plov and kebab are our favorite dishes.
From the story of my aunt giving me the Shakhrizoda which means a princess,
the one and only girl in the family,
and the difficulty of my family starting a life in New York without anyone’s help.
I am from the box of childhood, family photos on top of my closet.
I am from enjoying life with family and friends
From engaging to the man I dreamed of.

Where Im from

Michael Jimenez

I am from The Bronx but my family is from The Dominican Republic

I am from the comfy bed in my room

and from my tropical mango smelling room

I am from the love of Music

and the love of comics

I am from the love of sneakers

I am from my parents telling me I have to go to college

and being able to provide for myself

I am from having freedom

I am from As I am curling jelly

and leave in conditioner

I am from the gym

and working on myself

I am from trying to grow a beard