I am from scented dish soap,
bubbling green with foam.
I am from midnight reading.
(In darkness,
listening for footsteps.)
I am from the Japanese maples,
the cherry blossoms
fluttering in the wind
like flakes of colored paper.

I am from steak and rosary beads,
from Chris and Anna.
I'm from the friendly bats
and conversing birds,
from inside voice and every time a bell rings.
I'm from comedy and movie lines,
remembering word for word
and forgetting the origin.

I'm from family long gone,
mud pies and chicken dumplings.
From parents and brother who knew me best,
the dog I cared for most to her death.
On my bedside table is a photo frame
preserving old memories.
forever reminded
glanced at before sleep.
I am from the hopes and dreams-
lost and found, then lost forever-
from my mind's many tales.