I am from the wordy pages of a book, from lucky charms and fast food.
I am from a traditional home with the beige bricks, white door, and the carpet stairs, the busy but quiet street with friendly people and kids who love to make friends.
I am from the dirt in my garden and the pavement of my neighborhood.
I am from the grab bag every Christmas and the high cheekbones on my face from smart mouths and humor.
I am from family gatherings and blues music. From the join the clean plate and always remember your manners.
I am from the Home Of Life church that praised and worshiped God.
I’m from Chicago, from pumpkin pie and soul food. I am from the story of my birth, how my mother was in the hospital for two days before I was born and when I was born I was asleep. I am from the village where my father took me to meet my cousins, grandmother, and his friends. I am from the Chicago State university where my mother graduated twice.
“I am from white walls, from plaster and wood.”
“I am from the hip roofed house. I am from the green grass, the trees behind my house.”
“I am from Jackson and Rhine, and Louise.”
“I am from watching movies together and going to stores.”
“From “don’t hit girls” and “if anyone hits you hit them back”.
“I am from the god of Abraham.”
“I am from Chicago, mac and cheese and tacos and nachos. From the time my mom started making trains and is still doing it, and the time my dad married my mom in 2010.”
“I am from Chicago, where I breathed my first breath, where I said my first word, where I went to my first school, and where I wrote this poem.”
I am from the warmth of the suavitel my mom uses to wash the sheets on my bed
and waking up to the smell of pinol and pancakes while Gloria Trevi plays in the kitchen.
I am from an old brick house with a white fence and a white roof on the corner of the street where cars beep all day long.
From the blackberry tree in my old backyard
and the little playground my dad built for me and my sister.
I am from the road trips every summers to my aunts house in Delaware,
waking up at 6am to watch the sunrise with my cousins at the boardwalk.
I am from roasting marshmallows in my aunt's backyard with my cousins, while the older kids played music and talked.
I am going to work with my dad in the winter. Always stopping by for a hot chocolate and pan dulce for me.
I am from my dad always coming home from a long day of work to my moms home cooked meals
I am from putting up the Christmas tree every year, to also putting up an ofrenda every November.
From my grandparents that i’ll never get to meet,
I from the the grandparents i will have to wait to be older to visit
I am from generations of hard independent workers
I am from generations of immigrants who never got to achieve their dreams.