Where I’m from
I am from Black bibles,
From black and mild ashes, and corner store jolly ranch
wrappers.
I am from a forest like neighborhood where the raccoons
terrorize the neighbor’s garbage cans.
I am from gunshots and bullet wounds (that sound louder than
Saturday cartoons).
I am from broken asphalts and from despairing streets filled
with potholes, and littered sidewalks.
I am from predominate black citizens, Latinos, and Haitians.
I am from hot shot wanna-be basketball players with flashy
sneakers. Backboard breakers and clutch free throw shooters.
I am from weed head junkies, pill popping & hormonally
addicted teenagers. From know it all pretty girls to drag queens and pops.
I am from PTA meetings, low class budget schools, and lazy
faculty members. I am from Italian cheeseburgers, Gyros, and chicken shacks.
Deli sliced sandwiches and after school pizza slices.
I am from the cut and out of my mother’s womb and into her
stomach to the labor pains she felt pushing me into the world.
I am from that precious moment as I looked into
my family portrait.
