Where I’m From

I am from a countless number of todays

 

I am from sun kissed summers,

Sipping on piraguas, and syrup stained shirts

Dancing through the sprinklers

Or riding my bike to the end of the earth.

From Pokemon, Sonic X, One Piece, and ninja turtles

‘Cause three beats one on Saturday mornings.

From crumbs and pennies tossed in the sofa cushions

And toys scattered about the house

Refusing to be forgotten, to my mother’s dismay.

From baseball caps when my hair refused to be tamed

From sitting in the desolate dugout

And watching the sky erupt into delicate hues of orange, purple, red, and gold

Waiting for them to finish practice

So they can take me home.

 

I am from forgotten falls

Or wishing them to be.

From stiff school uniforms and the smell of newly mopped floors

From sitting alone at recess and reading a book

Because it was easier than plastering on a smile

And becoming one of them.

From watching the leaves fall to their inevitable demise

From hiding my tears

Disappearing

Suspended into the water droplets of a silent atmosphere

From losing him

But finding you

telling me to go online as soon as I get home

So we can talk about nothing and everything

And falling asleep with the sound of your voice resonating in my head

Wanting to hold your hand, but settling for your sweet goodnight

 

I am from washed out winters

Clean and made pure

Chilly and deafening.

From coconut Brownies in Co-op City

And falling asleep on my mother’s lap

while the preacher droned on about things that might have helped me now.

From snow forts and playing with the mini marshmallows

Tranquilly swimming in my hot chocolate

From burrowing myself in piles of blankets

“To Grandmother’s House We Go” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”

From the world being lit up by multicolored stars

shining out from the shadows cast by the branches of the Christmas Tree

From knowing that Santa isn’t coming

Anymore than the tooth fairy is

But setting out cookies and milk every year anyway.

 

I am from jovial springs

From the memories locked away in the albums stored in the cupboards

From dusting off the old books I already read

And seeing them, as if, for the first time

From waiting, anxious

For something, I don’t know

From words jumping off my fingers,

Willing me to give them life

From smiles etched onto the surface of the clouds,

And wrapping themselves around the heart of the moon,

At whom we belt out Frank Sinatra songs in the middle of the night

When only she can hear

Home is and always was the same place

From giggles with disremembered origins

And yellow balloons

Going up, up, up

 

I am from seasons of regret and love

From beautiful yesterdays

From wistful tomorrows

But more than anything, as I said,

I am from

A countless number of

todays.

http://youtu.be/t_1T76mYDY0

 

 

Response to the Making of “Where I’m From”

I really liked this project because I got to know a lot more about my classmates. I feel like by knowing what’s important to them and the culture that they’re from, really gave me insight as to who they are. I also love poetry, so this was a fun project to work on. I found the making of the video, however, to be more tedious. I really disliked having to cite all the pictures. I am also not very good with technology, so this part of the project was much more difficult. Overall, though, I found this experience to be very enjoyable.