I'm From Poem

I am from dollar store groceries  

from a ratty old vacuum and an always full trash can

I am from the five story brick apartment buildings that line both sides of the street

From my Mothers Bonzai tree

I am from the Maple tree over the Basketball court

whose long gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

Im from Basketball and Brown eyes

from Jerry and my mother

I’m from nervous sweating

I’m from Respect your adults and mind your own

and the music on the streets of Harlem

I’m from celebrating the holidays in the Harlem school of arts

I’m from the Harlem Hospital and a chocolate skin tone

From chicken fried steak

From the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ

Set up over our kitchen table high enough so we can all see it