Where I am From Poem (For Class)

I am from ‘Te quiero” and “What’s happenen Mon?”

I am from underneath the St Croix Palms

Tucked beneath a Caribbean sunrise.

I’m from tart pasta sauce, fried plantains sweet and salt

and fresh rice.

I’m from fat rain and new ribbons, car seat too.

I’m from the flashing lights of Tokyo blind-

And slamming doors bent over in two.

I’m from Costa Rica and Nippon

Sitting quiet under a 4am sun.

I’m from the winter bells of pasteles

Red words whispering me goodnight-

They roll off the tongue and I’m undone.

I’m from “If I tell you one more time”… and “Give me a kiss.”

I’m from wet hair, cold river, cockatoo on my wrist.

Dominican Republic and jade bright tea

Silver chocolate wrappers crinkle and running through trees.

I’m from tucked in deep green and under white stars,

gasping laughter and Happily ever afters.

I’m from red curtain Murray Hill

And pulsing dead ears.

I’m from Chai, paint and glue-sticks.

And from a box of flung paper

happy scribbles and tears.

And of course, voices around the lit fire

Never to end.

I climb through these crystal cobwebs up through

New threads.