I am from snow,












from Nestle and sodium chloride.














I am from the icy steps to the door.














(Shiny, wet, looking slick and smooth.)














I am from the Bur Oak tree,















the Blue Spruce tree used for Christmas














every year.
I am from fried turkey at Thanksgiving














and great height,
















from Mom and Dad.
















I am from the hard workers














and comedians,
















from you can do it and try your best.














I am from church class and mass on Sundays,













listening and practicing my beliefs.
I'm from the Empire State
















and Polish ancestry,















pierogies and kielbasa.










from the injuries dealt with by my father







while serving the community











in the NYPD,












the cancer battles my grandfather







fought and lost,











and the hard work used to follow dreams.











I am from the shelves and boxes in the closet






keeping pictures safe,











the scrapbooks with sacred memories.








The times of my life captured at a still,









the only way to look back









and remember fully,










where I'm from.