I am from coffee,

from warm mugs and caffeine.

I am from the water in the pool,

Cool, soothing,

heavy scent of chlorine.

I am from the chattering birds

the buzzing summertime bugs

all the sounds hypnotically inducing sleep

every warm evening whilst drifting into dreamland.

 

I'm from support and jokes,

from Mark and Susan.

I'm from loud-talkers and long-laughers 

and proud people,

from tradition and habit.

I'm from He was looking out for us

with unconditional love

and the memorized word in His name.

 

I'm from Shovel-Town and the Little Town,

hidden stale crackers and homemade cappelletti.

From Papa's white hammock

for napping on Thursdays,

the playground and pond and church along the walk.

 

Under the layer of dust is the photo book

preserving the people long past,

a stream of days before my time

to ignite curiosity all throughout my mind.

I am from those people and friends--

the twists and turns and decisions they made--

shaped from the very same stone from long ago.