I’m from cloudless, boiling summers

full of foolish flies

waiting for a miserable bite of my mouth-watering but melted ice cream.

I’m from where kids savor the salty ocean’s water

from where my nut-brown eyes saw you for the first time.

I’m from running on the beach

hearing the undulating waves

while my feet get wet.

I’m from “Don’t ever grow up kid”

where you go to school, college and you get a job.

I’m from where dreams come true

from where people are free

from justice, equality and peace.

But I’m also from chaos

from where people fight in meaningless battles without compassion

and from where my brothers and sisters die.

I’m from lasting fires when it’s winter

and hot chocolate and churros.

But I’m also from nights on the streets

where loneliness overwhelms

and poverty surrounds.

So I wish I was from the John Lennon song

where “people live for today”

and where “people live as one.”

I wish I was from a place where people didn’t fight

where I can be however I want to be.

But I’m from cloudless, boiling summers

full of foolish flies

waiting for a miserable bite of my mouth-watering but melted ice cream.

I’m from where kids savor the salty ocean’s water

from where my nut-brown eyes saw you for the first time.