Poem

Where I’m From...

I am from fall leaves
from mosquito bites and skinned knees.
I am from climbing trees
and “Commercial Sandwich .”

I am from home plate,
where grass now grows,
the two pine trees
whose lonely stumps remind me
of those lazy summer games.

I am from peanut butter and allergies,
from Dr. Seuss and John Grisham.
I am from math problems and English papers,
from wood chips and blacktop.

I am from sidewalk chalk and 64 Crayolas,
from sand boxes and “Mommy, I dirty.”
I am from football games and marching competitions,
from school dances and bowling on Friday nights.

I’m from terrorism:
the World Trade Center ,
the Pentagon,
and a plane in Pennsylvania .

I am from remodeling a house
and Clifford Castle in Ireland .
I am from heart disease and cancer
and a family trip to Disney World.

I am from Christmas Eves until 3:00 am
and bonfires on the 4th of July.
I am from the swing in the park,
free from right and wrong,
where the wind rushing past my face
makes everything right with the world.