Where I'm From

I am from tofu,

from t-shirts and toothbrushes.

I am from the one-story house turned two-story project

and the parts museum we called a garage.

I am from the lilac bush,

and from the maple tree, whose long arms hold our tired tire swing

that once sloshed putrid water after it rained.

I'm from soggy bread pudding and flimsy bones

from Grant Goldie and William Robert.

I'm from the clutterbugs and the organizers

and from the workaholics.

I'm from attitude adjustments and no-thank-you servings

and It'll feel better when it quits hurtin'

and Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

I'm from Friday night soup and Sunday morning waffles.

I'm from Kellogg and just plain America

and Malt-o-Meal muffins and eggplant casserole.

From the voice of God telling my mom to get out

when our house burned.

I'm from these moments--

Moments preserved in old photo albums,

Moments immortalized in Mom's scrapbooks,

Moments that remain vivid only in our memories

Moments now mixed and melded to make

Me