by Dagny Suro

I am from a bright blue condo with a large glass door 

and with smooth tile floors filled with the scent of fresh plants from the garden. 

I am from a place where the garden is full of the fresh smells of plants, 

the bright colors of birds of paradise 

and the sound of birds chirping along to the early morning sunrise. 

I am from a house full of love and joy and the constant talking or scribbling of the pencil, 

audible through the whole condo.

I am from a school where different things seem to be whispered behind my back.

I am from a family that called me brave and kind 

and also a family that nags me to stop reading at dinner and tell them about my day.

I am from a swim team that calls me confident and fast as I propel through the water 

And feeling warm inside as people compliment my drawings and cheer me on while I’m swimming along a wide pool.

I am from Friday night pizza and a movie.

I am from gatherings full of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents 

and going to the beach right after to dig in the sand with my cousins and swim out to sea.

I am from an annual camping trip to Salt Point where we take a hike to a secret cove 

and laugh around the campfire at night.

I am from christmas night dinners where I laugh and play with my cousins 

and talk and hug my aunts and uncles.

I am from watching Star Wars movies with my dad and comedy with both my parents at night.

I am from homemade pizza and bright green pesto made by my amazing dad.

I am from making cookies of all shapes and sizes in the warm, flour smelling kitchen of my blue eyed grandmother. 

I am from getting soft flour on my hands as I roll out dough in the tile kitchen of my house 

as I bake with my friends and family.

I am from hoping for justice in this gray world.

I am from dreaming for a day when people of all genders and races hold hands in a unified way.

I am from drawing long and detailed drawings of dragons and being praised by my family for the accomplishment.

I am from winning a brightly colored ribbon and holding my head up high as I walk away from the pool deck.

I am from a world full of confusion and despair.

I am from a world full of love and hope.

I am from a world where a man crashed down and slowly broke the bones of America but also 

from a world where someone new has filled in a high place to mend the broken hearts and heal the broken bones.

I am from a place where injustice is rising but the people of justice stand strong, a world where honorable people kneel down to fight for the justice of others.

This is where I am from