Where I’m From

by Amy Maslin

I'm from messy rooms

from piles of books and crumpled up papers

I am from dishes clanking water spilling and moaning brothers

from muddy cleats and "pick up your shoes"

I'm from airplane sounds and babies screaming

from cramped apartments and noisy computers

from loud brothers and "go away"

I'm from the yes's and no's

the sound of trucks screeching to a halt

from "stop it" to "I love you"

and the broken couch

I'm from rainy days

wet backpacks and too hot pasta

I'm from the people that love me and I'll never forget