I Am From. 9/28/15
by: Mirei Dominguez
I am from pencil lead and eraser shavings. From schoolyard fights to girls’ whispers behind my back. I am textbooks and backpacks way too heavy for an eleven year old. I am the cherry blossoms outside the school that floated in the wind.
I am from fear, I am from insecurity, I am from excitement. I am from my grandmother’s famous cheesecake. From the hammock swinging under the shade at my country house. I am from breezy summers and cold rocky road ice cream.
I am from baseball and from a mother who won’t stop talking about baseball. I am from seats near the dugout because my mother is friends with the owner of the Nationals.
I am from a city, a big city, with flashing lights, dirty streets and loud people. I am from giving the homeless man on my street my potato chips because I would rather not gain the extra weight.
I am the girl at her third birthday party who ran around buck naked “just ‘cause.” I am the infant in her mother’s arms who took off her shoe and decided “this is something I should put in my mouth.”
I am my brothers fake hate. I am his quiet care. I am from my father’s funny jokes and my mother’s beautiful smile. I am from family, a loud Jewish family. I am a speck of dust in a vast universe. I am nobody wanting to be somebody.
I am what I am.
9 responses to “‘I Am From’ Poem”
You are something else, my dear Mirei. Honest to God !!!
We need, WE DEMAND, a Spanish translation !!! Your aunt Ana and your grandma Pilar will appreciate it …
Lola and I love your poem very much. Favorite lines: “I am my brother’s fake hate. I am his quiet care.” And “I am the cherry blossoms outside the school that floated in the wind.” Beautiful observations…
Keep going! Xoxox
I love this! Keep it going!
One more comment. I nominate a “This is just to say” poem next. It is a very fun exercise that can reveal a lot about one’s true purpose in life. I wrote one to my dad that went:
I borrowed the car and returned it on empty
which probably made you late for work
Forgive me it was cold out and gas is expensive.
Here’s a story about spoofing this poem: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/354/mistakes-were-made?act=2#play
Wow, yet another talent you have Mirei, writing with such a perceptive way of expressing yourself. You go girl!
This is a beautiful poem. I enjoyed reading it. Flows nicely and its feeling. Mirei keep writing. You have a sensitive nature and talent:-)
I am from a place of pride that I now know where you are from! Well done, Mirei!!
The search for Edna St V Millay’s successor has ended
Burn your Candle at Both ends Mirei We need its wondrous Light……….
From a forgotten “Uncle”
HAMINLIMA
My kids, Katherine and Fox, now both want to write poems like yours! After going to graduate school with your Dad, I can verify that he does love to tell funny jokes!