I Am From...

I am from candles,
from Tums and Macleans
I am from the rainy, orange-tinted streets.
(and moistened top-lip in typhoon-type winds)

I am from the edelweiss flower
willow tree, fresh mangoes
From 10 varieties of banana
blackberries growing like weeds in the field

I am from opening presents on Christmas Eve
and stubborn backbone
from Dwight and Kathy

I am from strong moral fibre
and stubborn opinion
From eat with your mouth closed
and pray with your hands together

I am from mom plays the piano up front
and my dad knows better
I’m from Manchester and Sweden
lefsa and award-winning goop

I am from the time grandpa chopped off his thumb
The Red Feather museum with Aunt’s lace heirlooms intact
From dad’s bare foot summers:
Minnesota and fireflies.

I am from family portraits on Daisy Bank wall
From round-table memories and wall-papered slides.
And snippets of cousin’s stories

around s’more-making fires