I come from the place with the antique radio,
The big backyard with the swing set
We used to climb on and peek to the other side.
This place had a pecan tree
We'd steal the nuts from
And hear the crack against the woodshed ramp
It had a tree swing
With a thick white rope where,
If you swung too high,
You would nearly crash into the bark.
I am from the late-night concerts
With the pink straw hat
Mumbling the words to songs I loved
I come from the new house
That holds Ralph's house in its hot, barely lit attic
That contains the miniature hangers and carpeted hallways
Fit for a mouse
I am from the destroyed gingerbread houses
One by accident that scattered across the floor
The other on purpose for the one before
This place I'm from had a big blue shed
That was knocked down and caused tears
Tears that flowed for a silly reason that made everyone laugh
I am from the puppet shows
And the “Mail me to Grandma!” moments
From the place where Barbie and her friends swam in the sink
And they left water seeping onto the floor
That's why they only got to swim once in a great while
I'm from the place with the hamster that's brown and white
The hamster that ate everything and needed regular haircuts
I am from the place with the baby pool
We sprayed Mom with the green water hose
And she pretended she was mad but really wasn't
Dad caught it all on video and couldn't help but laugh
I come from the place with the roller skates
That looked like clown shoes
They made me fall and skin my knees, but I loved them
I am from the place with the Halloween
Where we shared a big hardwood floor and the room echoed
And all the brightly colored candy was spilled everywhere
I am from the place with the babysitter who would draw pretty pictures
I tried to copy the outline with a marker and crayon on the inside
I am from the places with memories, laughter, and lessons learned,
And everything that has made up my brilliant past.