Where I'm from

Where I’m From by Sanique Hamil I am from sugar and spice and everything nice. From Blue Mountain Coffee, bammy and fish. I am from the cool breeze, the vibrant sun and rushing rivers. I am from Orchids, Dandelion, Dog Blood and Cerassee . From chew stick often used to make our teeth whiter than the snow on a February winter’s day. I am from Maxfield easter buns and Tastee cheese , waist smaller than a cat’s eyeball and Coca Cola bottle physiques. I am from Peggy and Winston. From mistakes that are always justified by its owner. From “When plantain waan dead him shoot”, and “Hard ears pickney ago feel.” I’m from church on a Saturday, no t.v. until sunset and late night conventions I am from the house on the hill in St. Mary, the Garden Parish of St Ann’s Bay and Saltfish,tomatoes, dumplings,yam and bananas. I am from a Saturday in 2010 when my sister fell of the steps rushing to church, late nights rantings of my drunk grandfather, family photos sticked into mirror creases or placed into my mother's little treasure box. I am from the family tie-head, that is passed down from generation to generation, mother to child, child to grandchild, grandchild to great grandchild and the cycle continues. I am from sugar and spice and everything nice from reggae and dancehall, and the home of the “lightning bolt”, I am from Jamaica, I am Jamaican.