I am from home made cut-off shorts, T-shirt dresses, and white KEDS tennis shoes.

I am from the Peace-less-ness... uncertainty, curious, and heavy-weight of poverty carried on a  10 yr old frame.

I am from the honeysuckle bushes that grew wild at the ball fields, the wild tornadoes that blew over our apartment in season.

I am from cereal parties for dinner and Red Lobster on payday, from Horace, and Clarke, and Luckie.

I am from the arguments and polite viciousness.

From "I love you like a rock" and "one day we won't have to worry about this, baby."

I am from Sunday morning bests and Monday morning truth mixed with punishment.

I'm from Hueytown, Memorial Day Reunions, Ambrosia and Pink Salad.

From the high honor and respectful stories of two Grandfather's long gone before my birth, the pain and disappointment told in the eyes of my parents, and the truth that lies somewhere in between.

I am from black and yellowed photos pinned to walls in make-shift paper frames, and shoe boxes dark with dust.

Where are you from?