Where

I’m from,

The ocean hugs the coast

And kisses the sky

To remind the sun and

Moon

That it is in charge.

 

You see I’m from a country

Where it takes:

Two planes,

A map,

And a 30 minute car ride,

Just to get recognition

on my scholarship applications.

 

I’m from

having to pull out a map

Every time

Someone sees my last name

And point to exactly on the map

Where my family is from!

No, not from!

I mean...from from!

Like..like..like

Where are your

Parents from from!

I’m from

Having to explain to people

That I’m not mixed.

I’m from

Having to explain to people

That I can be

Both white and Latino.

I’m from

Having to explain to people

That yes

I do speak Spanish.

I’m from

Having to explain to people

Why I do speak Spanish.

I’m from

Explaining to people

That I do speak spanish

And yet every time

I step into a Spanish classroom

The White American teacher wants to sit me down

And tell me

How to pronounce

My own first name.

I’m from

Sitting in class

Being afraid of a pencil and paper

Being afraid of the music of my people

Being afraid of the language of my soul

Because my 7th grade English teacher

Told me that

Poetry

Was too ethnic.

I’m from

Feeling the fire in my belly

Every time I see

A blank pad of paper

And yet drinking

8 glasses of water a day

To quench a fire

That is too ethnic.

I’m from

Being called ethnic

As a code word for

Different.

I’m from

Not knowing what

“Different”

Even means.

But where

I’m from

Is not

What I am.

I am

Looking at the creases

In my mother’s face.

Seeing the lines

Of the Declaration of INdependence

Written in her story.

I am

Life

Liberty

And the pursuit of happiness.

I am

Vida,

Libertad,

Y el perseguimiento de la felicidad.

I am

Not putting subtitles in this poem

Because

I am

Not a subtitle.

I am

My father’s eyes

When I hear

That my president

Does not want

People like me

In my country.

I am

My mother’s tears

When I hear

That my president

Does not want

People like me

In my country.

But

I am

My smile

When I realize that

I am

This country.

I am

Fighting for freedom

By standing up for where

I’m from.

Because you see

The thing is:

Where

I’m from

Is not who

I am.

Where

I’m from

Is not what

I’ll be.

But I’ll tell you what

I’ll be.

I’ll be

Here.

I’ll be

A poet.

I’ll be

Free.

I’ll be

Standing under God

Indivisible

With liberty and justice for all.

I’ll be

Standing under the flag

Of the country that took me in

I am

Standing under the flag

Of the country that took me in

I’ll be

Singing

Standing

And Singing

Under the flag

Of the country that took me in.

And

I’ll be here

Waiting

For you.