I Am From | Teen Ink

I Am From

August 30, 2015
By daylighter BRONZE, Woodland Hills, California
daylighter BRONZE, Woodland Hills, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;A man takes his sadness down to the river and throws it in the river but then he&#039;s still left with the river. A man takes his sadness and throws it away but then he&#039;s still left with his hands.&quot;<br /> -Richard Siken, Boot Theory


I am from the rumbling laundry machine,
from sardines and Quaker oats.
I am from the rough, white walls of my room.
The carpet softer than a cloud.
I am from the jumble of trees, leaves, and shrubs,
the Aloe Vera plant
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
I’m from Chicken Paprikash and dark brown hair,
from Jessy and Uncle Dave.
I’m from grammar corrections and baking imperfections,
and from stubbing oh so many toes.
I’m from “when you’re older” and “practice your piano”
and “I before E except after C”
I’m from ham on Christmas Eve
I’m from Los Angeles and Wales,
hamburgers and hot dogs.
From my mother’s dancing feet,
her toes bleeding from ballet shoes.
Photo albums on the shelves,
in the closet, under the bed,
filling up ever space in my heart.


The author's comments:

I was given an assignment in school to write this piece. I was told to write a poem about who I am and where I am from, and to make it personal. I didn't actually get a very good grade on this poem. I didn't think it was very good until I read it to a friend and she told me I should publish it.


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