Where I Come From*

I come from many streets that all lead nowhere,
and houses that were never ours, from moving boxes and strange places and customs not my own.
I come from babies crying and mama singing,
the smell of cakes in the oven and the sound of her sewing machine.
I come from Loretta and Raymond,
Soldiers, each in their own way.
I come from Legos, monster trucks, and Franken-Barbies,
wrestling, sand boxes, swings, and dancing to the music in our heads.
I come from salsa, beans and rice, tortillas on the comal,
and my mother's lasagna too big for the pan, but only on holidays.
I come from "You can, and you will", "They don't know you", and "Don't let them win."
I come from a place where knowledge is power, the best things come from nothing, and everything is earned.
I come from Pride and Tenacity.
I come from a place rooted in love and family
a place that is constantly changing and growing
a place that thrives on togetherness and accomplishment.
That, is where I come from.

*This was a writing exercise in a seminar I attended last weekend. It's based on the poem "Where I Come From" by F. Isabel Campoy seen in the Second Creative Activity found here. I liked it so thought I'd share.