I am from pavements

From bikes and band-aids

I am from the petite, one-story house with a roaming yard

(Blue, comfy, with various sounds of TV and family)

I am from the Cotoneaster bushes

Filled with red, toxic berries

I’m from bike rides and blurry sight

From Michael and the Love’s

I’m from the Ramen noodles and gospel music

From “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” and “Come back inside when it gets dark.”

I’m from the Easter services to “You can do all things through Christ.”

I’m from Virginia and Africans, Native Americans, Latin Americans, and Europeans

Homemade mac n’ cheese and yams

From the meeting of my parents in high school, swiftly falling in love

My dad’s missed opportunity to play high school football because of his broken arm

Stored in a file box, encompassed by the darkness of the closet

Holding onto our past helps guide us to the future