I Am From
This poem is based off of George Ella Lyon's poem "Where I'm From Poem"
I am from coffee machines
from arroceras and sartenes
I am from the tan walls of my house
The smell of Cuban food
I am from the roses
The palm trees
Whose long limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
I’m from pork on holidays and Los Reyes Magos
from Mayling and Oclides
I’m from long goodbyes and cake to celebrate anything
And from talking loud.
I’m from “ve a estudiar” and “ten cuidado con el coco”
And “sana, sana, curita de rana”
I’m from Noche Buena
I’m from Cuba and Spain
Arroz con bistec
From coming on a plane
To a country where you didn’t know the language
Faded black and white pictures
Framed on the walls.