I am from thick books,

              from Off and Allegra

I am from the grassy areas

              dark green, allergenic

              felt like hot summer days.

I am from the rhododendrons,

              the cherry blossoms

              tall, white majestic trees bearing

              subtle pastel pinks.

I'm from the Polar Express movie nights

and the Wilhelm arm

              from my parents

I'm from the smart alecks

              and the volunteers.

From look after your brother and

              love you MORE than you love me!

I'm from the doves,

praying for peace and comfort for all.

I'm from Plano, Texas and the Cherokee or Choctaw,

              from corned beef and cabbage and jäger-schnitzel

From the prisoner in Andersonville, Georgia

              who served in the Civil War

              and might have died,

              or survived.

From the jokester who

spray-painted his father's

black car's wheels

canary yellow.

On the shelves, the family pictures are framed

and in scrapbooks,

waiting to be remembered.

I am from these pictures and

memories, both harsh and fun:

following my ancestor's footsteps

to blossom like my family tree.

I am from thick books,

From Off and Allegra.