Karlin

I am from Grandma’s red leather couch

From the Ingleside rec and bus number 7

you know, the one that took you down the highway to the mall

I am from sitting by the window seat

as my mother and my grandmother

sat in front and next to me

I am from the house behind the trees

that towered over our house,

with roots that made waves in the dirt

I am from the honeysuckles that grew in my Grandma’s backyard

My granny says that's how I got so sweet

but I ran with wolves

and when I felt close to them I called ‘em my bruddas

We ran circles round the gigantic "Christmas tree"

in the field down the street

I am from big backyards

and fishing in the lake

From gun crates

turned toy boxes

and new paint when we needed new starts

I am from three happy birthday songs and wide noses

From 3 singers who never looked back

From Gladys and Deborah

To Chandra

I am from singing along to the music when the drinks get going

I am from socratic circle turned def comedy at the dinner table

And very passionate discussions

From "when you become a lawyer, you gotta help me out"

And "young kids too scared to chase they dreams”

to “we won’t let you forget yourself”

and “I think you had enough”

I am from proxies to spare

and love to be shared

I am from church on Sundays while at grandma house

To the only Black people at the baseball game, Sundays

I am from Norfolk, tha’ seven-five

My family riddles the South

From red chicken soup when it snows

and steak, when it was dads turn to cook

From the time Uncle Pierre got too excited at the cookout and broke my mommas lamp

doin’ his steps in the kitchen

To the times Uncman stole icecream for me from his job

From that night before Thanksgiving, when my mom was singing to her sweet potato pie,

when my brother karate-chopped

her dreams with a “hii-ya”

I am from the tables around my grandmother's house,

full of family portraits

Where my graduation picture sits in between my mother’s and her mother’s.

I am from 3 generations

of lovers, yearners

grievers

dreamers, believers

mothers

I am from Gladys and Deborah

From Chandra