WHERE I’M FROM

I am from 8 track cassette tapes,

from Parliament-Funkadelic

and relatives swinging out

over the red dirt hills of Mima’s front porch.

I am from mustard colored wall paper

and granny’s hanging décor,

a life-sized fork and spoon.

I am from eating Sunday dinner

with the family at 3:00pm

and a tribe of Cherokee Indians,

from Dorothy and Marcellus

and Aunt Betty’s monkey bread

on Thanksgiving day.

I am from pig-tails and barrettes,

straightening combs

and Mrs. Dudley scorching my forehead.

From “don’t chew with your mouth open”

and Denise’s and Michelle’s

hand-me-downs

two sizes too big.

I'm from the Rose City,

rouge red dirt and BTU on Wednesday

evenings.

From Mc Hammer pants,

clown suits and those black shiny shoes

with the fluffy ribbon.

I am from banana clips,

mood rings, and airbrushed Girbaud jeans.

I am from those marinated moments

snapped before me,

awaiting in my album of memories.

- Mrs. T. Anderson