Lineage

I am from blankets

From Mr. Clean and Windex

I am from the jungle of a garden

Green, wild

It sounded like summer

I am from the crab apple,

The cherry tree

Standing tall and strong

I’m from the tomato juice and hairy body

From Dot and Lester and even Dad

I’m from the anxious and extremely stubborn.

From, “Speak up”

And, “Don’t cry unless you’re hurt”

I’m from home,

Potatoes and tomatoes

From the time grandpa rode an elephant before he came home from war

To the smell of smoke on clothes

I’m from the pictures lying in packets around the house,

Waiting to be scrapbooked by the hands of a mother

I am from a family of love and hate

From happiness and sadness

From lies and truth

I am from a family of hope

From a place where even if we are angry, we care

And that’s all that really matters.

-B