I Am From

I Am From

By Kalinen Barrows
Rutland Middle School

I am from the tin roof house on the old dirt road
from a pineapple couch and a big wicker chair
from sitting on a little rusty heat vent and feeling the warmth on my shoes
from Barbie Dolls all over the living room floor

I am from one bathroom and five people
from a little white bedroom with rainbows, balloons and clowns on the wall
from stealing my brother's candy
from playing with my sister's things
from crawling into bed with my parents and hiding from the monster

I am from splashing in a cheap worn-out pool
from drinking straight from the hose on a hot summer day
from digging in a makeshift sandbox with my friends
from making hay forts with my cousins

I am from Mickey Mouse T-shirts and pretty little ponytails
from "Are We Theere YET?"
from singing "Miiss Maarry Mack, Mack, Mack!" over and over

I am from eating ice cream on the porch with sister
from watching ants disappear into the ground
from late night bonfires by the river
from staring into the rising heat although it stung my eyes

I am from the wagon that I broke riding it into a ditch
from a little rusty tricycle
from an oversized ball uniform
from purple forget-me-nots growing in the shade

This is where I'm from
This is ME