Where I am From

I am from movies, from Coca-Cola, and Act-II

I am from the waxed hardwood floors

 (Run-down, slippery

 Perfect to run on)

I am from the berry bush and the gardenias

Whose bitter, bitter taste

 Of losing the bet I will never forget

I am from hot chocolate every afternoon and white hairs, from

Vitos and Marias

I am from the readers and the realists

From you’re driving me crazy and tienes que esforzarte mas

I am from church, if grandma visits this year.

                        Pray before you leave the house, never do,

                        Dios the ampare

                        And Abuelita give me your blessing.

I’m from Quito, Ecuador mountains protecting the city, and

 Every other place

I have picked something from,

To be part of my patchwork childhood

From pasta and locro

Always reminding me of my blood line

From the ship my great grandfather travelled on,

To New York and then down

The cardboard box my cousin used to shove us in

Whenever she got bored

I am from airports,

(They make me feel so at home)

From the safety video

  I know so well

I am from the carved wooden chest in Abuelita’s

Living room

With yellowing photo albums, and a new picture always ready to be found

From the 50’s to the 80’s, all before I stood

Old newspaper clippings, half-familiar faces staring back at me

I am from those faces, waiting to be recognized –

I don’t know them, but I do—

Faraway but stuck together.

For more where I am from poems got to Middle Minds