I am from the monopoly game,

                                           from the push pins and the lined paper.

                               I am from the decrepit house that was close to crumbling

                                     But then was fixed to become both a playground 

                                                         and battlefield.

                                           I am from the heater’s which whistle 

                                  its warmth being the only thing I could rely on. 

                               I am from the clovers that kept me busy outside.

                                                    The evergreen tree, 

                                         whose long limbs I remember 

                                              as if they were my own. 

                    I am from the Secret Santa on Christmas and the loud family.

           I am from running to the kitchen before everyone takes the pancakes

                                                               and,

                               from fighting for the bathroom when we go to a hotel. 

                From playing basketball in the summer with sweat dripping from our faces.

                        I am from the “dream big” and “do not walk barefoot”.

                                        And “Let it go” from Frozen.

           I am from the family gatherings on New Years Eve where we count down

                                     and jump with excitement afterwards.

                                      I am from Lawrence and the latinos. 

                                                           Pastelitos and plátanos fritos.

                                         From when we went to the Dominican Republic

                                and got a stomach ache for eating too much ice cream.

                     From when we dug for shiny rocks while the sea crawled and crashed on to us.

                                        The sunscreen glistening on our skin like pearls

                       And the kool aid drenched in water from being in the cooler for hours.