I AM FROM

I am from dried flowers on the wall,

From perfume samples and empty jars,

I am from the upstairs room that is now my dad's,

stuffy, contained, Babe 2 Pig in the City poster by the bed.

I am from eucalyptus leaves in the shower,

I lived with a girl who did that and I've done it ever since.

I'm from my grandmother's constant worries and the way my dad eats cake.

From "you are good and you are special and you can do it" and "quitters never win"

I'm from going to chapel, church and sunday school - praying a dozen times a night.

I'm from a constellation of early 2000s chinese restaurants across huntersville and charlotte,

chrystanthemum tea, boiled peanuts.

From teaching my sister the days of the week by drawing them with chalk on a hopscotch grid,

My mom's fascination with gadgets and the summer my dad was a premium Blockbuster member,

The crowded shelf of DVDs and photo albums by the tv.

How I answer my phone whenever they call.