I am from dust
and yellowing pages
From shelves
and the Dewey Decimal System
From the millions of words
lining a library’s infinite walls

I am from faeries
and Secret gardens
From pixie dust
and teeth hidden
expectantly under my pillow

I am from marbles

and jacks

and sandboxes

with tarnished tin molds
From trains and newspapers

Black and White to shades of gray

I am from Astrid Lindgren

and "Going On Nine"

Little House's and Bambi
From Dreaming on a Midsummer's Night

I am from Monopoly and tree forts

Capture the Flag and Canasta
From castles in the trees to
Flying kites on the battlefield
That one Perfect Day

I am from Borax and white glue

From vinegar volcanoes

and exploding soda cans
I am from Fourth of July’s

spent watching Roman Candles

echo over the pier

I am from Battleship and battle ships

Water and Air

1776 to 2001

I am from calendars and National Geographic

from giraffes and speckled eggs

pictures in the clouds

and bright green grass

I am from Marvin Gardens and clothespins

from blankets strewn over chairs

and Jackson, Ice Cream and old fashioned diners


I am from algebra and wind tunnels
From plane tickets and foreign ornaments

perched below angels and the Star of Bethlehem
I am from the Carol of the Bells

I am from empty canvasses and Vincent Van Gough
I am from Stone Henge

From Canis Major and Aurora Borealis
From skies painted in cloudy pastels

and waves erupting from the ocean’s murky depths

I am from etymology and wings
From academia and aerospace
Foundations and Flight

colliding
I am from those brief seconds when you feet leave the ground
and those that ground you

make you grow roots

and entwine your branches in the family tree—
Reaching towards hope
Rooted in history