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.