Where I’m From Poem
Where Im From
By Ruth Barral
Im from stand up straight and say
please and thank you
Im from a place where I always had my sister
next to me
Im from my mom and John
from seeing my mom
from missing John
Im from making plans with Anna
And looking back at memories with John
Im from never having enough
Time
Im from questioning the religion I was raised with
And finding a faith of my own
(But to this day I cant take down the photo of John Paul II on my desk)
Im from languages I cant speak
And people I wish I had the chance to know
Im from playing in the snow until I couldnt feel my own
body.
Im from blowing the seeds of dandelions in my backyard
Im from playing in the leaves
Im from wanting summer never to end.
Im from craning my neck up to look at peoples
faces.
Im from braided pigtails
and ironed Sunday dresses
and getting them filthy later
Im from big hugs from all the cousins
on Christmas and Easter.
Im from messing around in the kitchen
Im from lamb and rosemary and lots of lemon
Im from flowers on birthdays.
And funerals.
Im from subways and buses and taxis
from bicycles and skateboards
from long car trips
Im from going to the beach
And going to the movies for the whole day
And going to museums and
Im from staying in
Im from having expensive taste-
(A Ferrari and Chanel on either side, always)
Theyd get that joke if they were here
I was from shy and quiet
But now
Im from loud and outgoing
Im from best friends in high school
And best friends far away.
Im from the green rose you pinned onto my wrist to match my dress.
Im from trying to make every bad impression a learning experience
And enjoying all the good memories
Im from fighting over clothes and never boys
From the bunk beds in Johns apartment
And the Barbie dream house in our basement
From being born sisters and growing up best friends
Im from going out late with you and getting away with everything
Then later realizing Im such a bad influence
Im from empty threats and white lies,
and making up and forgetting we even fought.
Part of me is from my sister but my sister is really from me
Im from the stretches in the dugout and the laps around the field
From pulling off each play
From catching each ball
And if we tried really hard,
Im from the team that won that game
Im from waking up each morning, looking in the mirror and seeing more and more of my mom looking back at me
Im from catching myself referring to my father in the present tense
Im from lots of cousins and uncles
(most of whom Im not related to)
teaching me what I ought to already know
Im from scuba
Im from PADI and LIDA and Sea Gypsies
From Far Rockaway
Im from sandy beaches and blue waters far away from home
Im from arguing and taking without asking
Im from dust and dirt and mess
Im from not following directions
And later wishing I did
Duration : 0:3:0
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