Where I am From...

I am from firework watching from the balcony and barbeques,
from Black & Decker late nights with friends and neighbours
and the beat of explosion in our hearts.

I am from the tall apartments and freshly mown grass
that felt like rain againt my legs,
I am from the lillies in vases that always smelt burnt.
I am from plucking petals off daisies;
"He loves me... he loves me not...", with the many petals
and the yellow core that's all is left.

I am from yearly family dinners, and family trips to Disney Land,
from road trips with brown bags ready.
I am from watching baseball on the couch the ice in the oolong tea melting.

I am from don't wear my make up and don't touch my clothes.
I am from the insults from my sister,
and the hand-me-down clothes.

I am from neatly stacked books, newly cut flowers
and the daily polished windows.

I am from smiling will get you far in life,
and don't jude a book by it's cover.

I am from my mother stuffing me in stiff clothes being dragged to church.
I am from don't do this and don't say that.
I am from saying a prayer before meals
and suppresing eye-rolling.

I am from Kawasaki, Japan.
I am from sushi with aunts and ramen with giddy uncles.

I am from strawberry picking on early Summer mornings,
from cards with worn edges,
I am from car trips to grandad's farm.

I am from reach for the stars,
and you can do better than that.

I am from the pig tail wearing girl in the glossy picture
of the family trip to Sydney.
From the porcelain Japanese doll that sits on the piano.
I am from the trunk that stores hundreds of those pristine photographs of our family laughing.

I am from the stiff, strong, and elegant branches of the sakura tree that grows in my grandmother's backyard with the forever changing leaves.