I am From

Adapted by Levi Romero
Inspired by “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

I am from an endless supply of applesauce
From cluttered counters and piles of photo books
I am from the once empty lot
That smells like football players and tastes like frozen milk
I am from the Lavender plants that have grown so large
The old oak tree and red buds
Whose long gone limbs I remember
As if they were my own

I’m from Hilton Head vacations and bickering brothers
From Grandma and Grandpa
I’m from winter football games and chocolate cheesecake
And from teeth that always seem to have something wrong with them

I’m from “Don’t make a mess” and “I love you”
And from “The door is wide open to anything you want to be”
I’m from waking up before the sun on Christmas day
I’m from Kentucky and Scotland
Pancakes on Saturday and Joe Bolognas’s after church
From always having a smile
Through thick and thin and
From the memories I will never forget
That will always have a place in my heart.