I am from the rich soils of the fields, the small patch in the hill of 15minutes drive from grandma’s, where I used to collect thick healthy worms and larva, from the juicy cucumbers and ripe bloody red tomatoes just plucked off from the stem by grandmother’s white, tough, and wrinkled hand

from the candied blueberries rolled in sugar, frozen, and from the mellow orange melon ice candies specially made for the us five hungry puppies back from abroad

I am from the tatami floor and the animal painted curtain engraved with the memories of “once upon a time”, and my house’s wood like smell that always evokes nostalgic and enchanting wonders of childhood days

I’m from Yokohama in the country I both cherish and despise, but from Bushi who fought with dignity and pride in the name of Kagami, from the long history of seven thousand years of humankind till this moment, now

I am from the sweet fragrance of elegant Ume blossoms and the evergreen vivid papaya tree that never grows taller than my knee

I am from the forest valley of adventures, from the root ropes dangling from the magnificent trees, hundred of years old, waving, and luring you into the thrills of Tarzan jumps

I’m from mouth burning zesty bowls of green curry on a street somewhere in Thailand, and from mild creamy spoonfuls of Palak paneer in an Indian mountain village

I’m from dad who sits on the porch in the dawn and mom who stands by me at all times

From the family of laughter and joy, from the Saturday Softball of sweat and passion, and the Sunday dinner in the living room, 14 eyes staring at the TV

From a grandmother who faced a life crisis and devastating tragedy with courage and strength to raise my mother out of suffering

I am from the friends of faith, where I lay myself down, in the quiet peace of silent compassion

I’m from “heart burning with loving kindness” and I am “drops of one ocean & leaves of one tree”
I’m from one small piece of an enormous space

I’m from Japan, from Malaysia, from Thailand, from India, from Singapore,
I am from Earth

I am from the mother earth that envelops me with the love as high as Mt Everest, covered up with pure white snow, standing up tall, reaching to the clouds,
and the blessings as deep as the crystal clear dark blue trench in the ocean that cuts in to the crust of the planet

I’m from a long-long journey of life to the vast future of space

I am a young sprout just beginning to blossom

from a hard, ancient shell of the past into the future full of life