I am from a fragment in time that still held innocence.
From high fevers lowered by the low hum of Adlevice,
and the ice baths that froze me in time.
I am the blue eyed baby girl who survived the odds,
of a ten percent to survive.

I am from the tractor tire sandbox ,
that snuck crunchy sand grit between my teeth.
I am just one paper, pinwheel blade, joined by several cousins-
spinning in a circle, singing “Suzie, Suzie, Suzie.”
Falling down like wet leaves from the maple tree,
The one that dropped enough leaves to bury rubber balls,
and hoola hoops.

I am all the days of summers past,
that safely cradle unforgotten memories,
the ones I grieve for in a hot days breeze.
I come from afternoons that the warm sun made us perspire,
a salty taste above our lip,
that we licked at nap time.

I come from the rainbow colored swing set that flew us high,
to new and better places.
I am a Rugrat following Tommy on another adventure,
because “a baby’s gotta do what a baby’s gotta do.”
I am the toddler in a night gown sitting on carpeted steps,
sliding from step to step chanting;
“Oompa Loompa doompadee doope.”

I am the indent in green blades of grass,
and I am the half of two hands intertwined,
watching the clouds wave by,
finding the faces of fluffy, white dragons.

I come from fuzzy wars on the ugly, floral sofa
launching lint grenades from cousin to cousin
loudly, whispering; “Fuzzy you,”
retaliating with “No, Fuzzy You.”

I am from comforting arms of tradition, holding me tight.
I am the autumn days that filled the house with
the warm aroma of homemade apple crisp pies.
I am the ice-cream buckets of Moms chili,
in December on annual chili night,
chock-full of purple kidney beans,
drenched in chunky sauce,
with a Zest of mild seasoning.

I am from poverty that was numbed by love,
From failures outdone by triumphs,
and the wishes we turned to prayers.
So I pray for love because it always triumphs,
and I pray for the poor wishes that failed.