Where I'm From

I’m from the house down the bend;

From the one with the maroon garage and the pond.

I’m from half the yard gone to garden and flag;

From the tree that seems to match my age.

I’m from the run down streets and half a school;

From construction and high gas.

I’m from the woods, the rich greens and browns;

From mermaid rock and the tire swing.

I’m from my moms scream and dislocated shoulder;

From my uncle crashing that dirt bike.

I’m from my great-grandmothers rundown house;

To the field all grown.

I’m from the diamond… the only one with dirt;

From the crack of the bat and the whistle of the ball.

I’m from the yelling and screaming;

From the smell of my sweat and blood.

I’m from winning it all to losing everything.

I’m from the court and the net;

From the ball and the kneepads.

I’m from hitting it in and out;

From spraining my ankle coming down.

I’m from be told to “get up over it!” and “get down to the ground”;

From hit to pass.

I’m from all over, some places I don’t even know.

I’m from the same place I will go again… the place I call

Home.