I am From
I am from high expectations
The first thing I learned is that my mother truly believes I was molded by the hands of God
How do you live up to that?
How do you live up to your mother believing that you were born for greatness
I don’t even know what greatness means
But I do know that I am from people who know exactly who I am
No, I’m sorry I meant exactly what they want me to be
Wait no, I know that it’s the same thing
Well that’s what they always told me
I am from not wanting to stand out
Why would I want to stay out when fitting in means making them proud
I mean of course I know what they want
But what if I’m starting to learn my own beliefs
What would they think then?
What would they say
I know my mother would nearly faint if she ever found out I do not believe in a God
So how can I be from his hands?
If my mama only knew
I believe in the universe
I do suspect that I was hand-crafted
So yes mama some parts of your words were true
But I believe in something other than being made for greatness
Like the loving caress of Mother Nature’s palm against my cheek
I can almost her whisper
And so how could possibly dismiss her
I know that she does not expect anything from me
Unlike my own family
They will just have to accept this even if it is unhappily
This is my process of unwinding their intertwined ties
This is how I learn what I am from
By Crowley Carter
Original Pieces by the following authors: Crowley Carter, Jocelyn Jimenez Romero, Nhi Lu, Kyi Oo, Maia Rountree, and Tian-Jiao Song.
"I AM FROM" POEMS
I am from rain on the roof and playing in the alley to riding bikes and feeding pigeons bread.
From playing in my kitty pool on the balcony of my old apartment to glow-in-the-dark stars, CDs, and Cassettes.
I am from novels playing in the living room and sleepovers on the floor.
From my dysfunctional but somehow we work family to calling dibs on everything and then having to share.
I am from my sibling's board games to Sunday spontaneous adventures.
From constant screaming and laughter to late-night talks.
I am from doing fun random activities with my siblings to bandas blasting from my speaker.
From windows down and hair in the air to cumbias, reggetón y bad bunny.
I am from pots and pans in the oven to arroz con frijoles, pozole, tamales, y mucho mas.
From te callas o te callo, no manches, ¡Ay dios mio! to ¿en serio?, hasomecha, y el chisme?
I am from oh wow, you’re Mexican? Really, you don’t look like one to my love for my culture, family, and friends.
​
I am from summer
From fall
I am from a love for blooming flowers
From passing seasons
I am from the white blossom tree
That sits in front of my house
From watching it blossom through months of spring
From watching it sleep in days of snow
I am from afternoon walks
From long runs
I am from art and music
From reading and writing
I am from several cups of coffee before noon
From overthinking
From stress
I am from trying my best
From success and failure
I am from not giving up on the things I love
From getting out of bed to drink water
From reading books on rainy days
I am from appreciating the little things
​
By Nhi Lu
I am from shelves that are full of books
From a family of music lovers, all different taste
I am from New Delhi, India
And my family is from Myanmar
I am from chai
Made by both my parents every morning
I am from temples
From my favorite holiday, the lantern festival
From loads of biryani
And from the air fryer, since I don’t know how to cook
I am from a family who loves nature
From road trips in our Subaru
And from hour long naps in the back seat
I am from my memories that are full of euphoria
I am from friends and family that create love and laughter
By Kyi Oo
I’m from a restless mind
& Unhealed heart
To overly optimistic
& Inherently empathic
Underestimated never understood
Yet I don’t know where it’s from
Comparing and contracting my thoughts
A prime example of irony
That’s probably why I find it hard to live with myself
Misplacing things
2 am thoughts
Random burst of energy
Finding beauty in the broken
In the ugly and unloved
I’m from morning affirmations that keep me going
To Scheduled-unscheduled calls
From listening to Solange with the ancestors
Meditating
To calm this restless mind
By Maia Roundtree
I am from rainy cities and comfy rooms,
from music melodies expressing my thoughts,
I am from reoccurring dreams,
and surreal as the magic forest and as real as my reflection,
I am from the musical melodies of the piano,
whose songs I used to play in everyday sunset evenings,
I am from daydreaming, beaches, campsites and calmness,
from my collective circle of friends,
and from overthinking and recalling,
from kindness and thoughtfulness,
I am from my friends that hangs out and spends time together,
from creating wonderful meaningful memories of good old days and moments,
from my closest friend who supports and guides me
and from me the friend who listens and gives advices,
I am from the moments that brings me comfort, reassurance, joy and address.
I am from daydreaming, beaches, campsites and calmness.
​
By Tian-Jiao Song