Where I come from there is clutter

Pots, pans, and dust stacked up in the hallway

A vacuum speeds through the living room,

As it tries not to trip on the furniture in the walkway

 

Where I come from there’s sidewalk chalk

bright colors, big trees, motion, and loud talk

 

Where I come from family is important

We put each other first

Parents, Grandparents, Cousins

To help when things are the worst

 

Where I come from “It is what it is”

Well, “It is, isn’t it?”

 

Where I come from we eat smoked turkey, 

even if no one likes it 

But we celebrate with cakes, pies, and ice cream

And we laugh a little bit

 

Where I come from we avoid politics

Because it always creates conflicts

 

Where I come from is where I’ll stay

Because my ancestors have lived here for generations

Yet my memories are where my family is

And I’m glad as long as we’re in communication

 

Where I come from there is people

People with whom I will have lifelong connections

Hey 13 year old me,

It’s 18 year old you.

 

I just stopped to tell you of the things you will do.

You are so close to college, plotting the things you may pursue.

 

You finally get your license

So you are not counting on others’ reliance.

 

In the summer you move down the beach,

And you are happy as a peach.

 

You’ll break your nose again,

And can never really breathe since then.

 

Your skin gets worse and worse,

But you can’t do much about it, it’s just a curse.

 

Your mental health gets tight, 

But you put up a really good fight.

 

The world gets pretty messed up,

The environment is as dirty as the people being corrupt.

 

You lose value when you are friendly, nod, and smile.

Like being a good person has gone out of style.

 

Our opinions are met with anger,

Even if it’s the same as theirs, a constant feeling of rancor.

 

You never see your “friends” anymore,

But I promise it is better that way, even though it’s not what you asked for.

 

You spend a lot of the time happy,

But you have some awful days; they can be so crappy.

 

I still watch the same TV shows over and over, I recommend, 

Because I need the reassurance of knowing how something is going to end.

 

We have developed so much anxiety,

Don’t worry, I am getting good at hiding it.

 

They will try to fill you with plastic ideals,

But I have not let the holes in your heart give in, it’s not the way to heal.

 

It has happened before, but never give in to others.

Life isn’t worth these kinds of suffers. 

 

I wish I could go back in time, to be me in my prime,

But I know there are better days to come and it’s not just an uphill climb.

 

You’re safe now, 

And somehow everything turned out okay…wow.

 

One day they were there, 

Standing tall and strong.

They swung their branches to the beat of the wind,

They supported the girls when they climbed their branches.

 

The next day they were gone,

Chain saws had come,

And with their metal teeth they had cut off the branches.

The trees could no longer dance to the wind’s song.

 

Minutes later the teeth cut the trunks and they were gone. 

They were no longer standing tall and strong,

Their branches could not support the girls anymore,

Their snowy blossoms could not fall.

 

One sister could not speak for a long time,

Her eyes cried tears of sadness. 

One girl was surprised,

She couldn’t believe the trees would never snow blossoms again.

 

The parent’s mouths said they were sorry,

The four daughter’s mouths forgave.

It took a long time to get over,

But the memory will always remain.