Where We’re From

I am from the heat, cyclones,
hail and earthquakes.
I am from one of the many
islands in South-East Asia.
I am from the growing mangos
near my house.

I am from the bats who
would eat up our plants.
I am from the pool
which I almost drowned in.
I am from my cousin who
is still short and funny.

I am from the Angeles city.
I am from the many bugs and
insects that break in.
I am from the mountains
full or empty of snow.

I am from mirrorballs & 13’s
from cowboy boots & body glitter

I am from 21’s & yellow hearts
from yellow & pink megaphones

I am from espresso cups & kiss marks
from short n’ sweet with blue hearts

I am from megaphones & the color purple
from fishnets & boots.

I am from McLaren jerseys & designer boots
from orange & black confetti

I am from cowboy boots & royal blue
from ‘am I okay’

I am from mountains with cities on top
I am from silk covered skies
I am from the pine aroma that fills the forest

I am from mama’s ube jam
I am from the cold tiled floor
I am from the smell of paint from papa’s room
I am from the lizard and lion mountains

I am from the vibrations of my guitar
while sitting at a crowded desk.
I am from my tall desk bed towering
over my messy wooden floor
I am from the clogged shower turning
into a bath
I am from the TV playing while my
parents talk about their separate days.

I am from sitting on my steps listening
to the music fest outside my condo
I am from the dark nights laying
or the slides of the back playlot.
I am from the shrieking of friends
when someone does anything.

I am from the familiar tunes I
repeat in my head.
From hiding under the cotton layers
that keep me safe from the
darkness in my room.

I am from the familiar sound
of barking.
from the colored ink refusing to
come off my hands.
I am from the rare fact, the
low percentage of 3 children at once.

I am from the missing traditions,
and heritage I cannot see
in the mirror.

I am from—

I am from a magical city where you
can experience all Four seasons in one day

From the weeks of hard work it took for
my Dad and I to build my desk
I still remember choosing the
colors I wanted it to be

I am from the mesmerizing glow of candles
in a dark room and the company they
kept

I’m from graphite smudges on my paper
and my hands

I am from sleepless nights
caused by neighbors or the day
yet to come.

I am from the strong, warm scent of
vanilla perfume.
I am from the shoe boxes filled with old letters
and bracelets in my drawer

I am from church almost every Sunday
I am from he is risen
with easter eggs hidden around the church
garden.

I am from “stop annoying me!”
and the “is that attitude I hear?”

I am from rice and dresses,
from Apolinario and Juariza.
From long car rides to my grandparents.

I am from playing outside for long hours,
the smell of fresh wind.
and the heat of the sun.

I am from late night calls,
from never ending from my family
I am from star gazing from the
window.