I don’ t know where I am from
Am I from waking up in the burning morning
and going to sleep in the dead of the night? Or am I from grandma’s cooking, whisks spinning, bowls clanking
In our tiny, warm kitchen
Perhaps I am from those bizarre summer excursions to
The roaring Barbados
The hilly St. Vincent
the aromatic Bahamas
Visiting, spending, making those nutty memories with my fam
As the rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night
The fresh ocean breeze passes through our windows
And my aunts catch fish while my cousins fall down the stairs
Maybe I am from rich, snarling reggae blasting,” Don’t worry about a thing,
’cause every little thing is going to be all right.”
I’m probably from lofty Saturday road-trips with dad
To wishing, I was an ice cream sundae with a cherry on top daughter
I am from people judging me based on my looks
And me doing the same
I am from trying my best to please others
But they don’t do the same
I know I am from an
accepting community
where I am surrounded
By people like me
With the same dark skin
Making me feel at home
Even with the drama
But yet again
maybe I am from the split families who
Were never one
And you can’t forget about those nights of bawling in bed
Hearing that phone call
you’ve been waiting for only to hear
Why didn’t you call me
you did this
you did that
Why don’t you take the blame dad
every time I walk back into Golden Krust on
E Gun Hill Rd, in Bronx, NY
I hear,” Oh you Delroy daughter.”
Am I from waking up in the burning morning
And going to sleep in the dead of night?
I don’t know where I am from.
(Attributions: Langston Hughes for: The rain plays a little sleep- song on our roof at night.)
Chaeli is thirteen years old and loves hanging out with friends, writing, and spending time with her family. The reason she loves all of these things is that she doesn’t have to worry about anything and can just be herself. Writing helps her the most because just getting thoughts out onto the page shows her how much she’s grown not only as a writer but as a person in general.