"Where I'm From" by Michaela Arguin

Where I’m From*

By Michaela Arguin

I am from matching outfits

From Cinnabon on Sunday morning and Disney VCR marathons

I am from the oak paneled floor and ceiling kitchen

(Brown, twisted,

it smelled like Ragu sauce.)

I am from daisies - my middle name -

the lilac bushes

whose smell would fill the living room and make my mother smile

every summer.

I’m from game nights and picky eaters,

from Michael and Bethany.

I’m from the storytellers and summer adventures

From “Clean up after yourself!” and “I love you”

I’m from Easter egg coloring and skipped

midnight masses on Christmas.

I’m from Freetown, Massachusetts and Eli Whitney,

those Utz ‘cheap chips’, and Mam-ma’s grilled cheeses.

From the book my little brother wrinkled,

from the breast cancer my grandma survived.

On the top self of the hall closet is rows

of photo albums,

every moment of my life documented

by my dutiful mom and dad

I am from those photos,

colorful and bright

reminding me how loved I am.

*Based on the poem, “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

Michaela Arguin is a student at Boston College and is one of our Spring 2019 Blog Correspondents for Amman, Jordan.