I am from dollhouses,
From Mini Wheats and Goldfish.
I am from the columns on the front porch
(Tall, white,
they looked like they were Greek)
I am from the elephant ears,
the oak trees
that drop acorns all over my yard.

I’m from the loud Thanksgivings and Disney trips
from Bubba and PawPawPaw and MaMa.
I’m from the family cooking
and early holiday decorating,
from Geaux Tigers! and Who Dat!
I’m from homemade prayer cards,
hand-colored in our grammar school classrooms.

I’m from Perth, Podgora, and Metairie,
Krostole and oyster dressing
From the Australian immigrants who took a boat to America,
the cancer survivor who fought for her grandchildren.

On the coffee table
are the Shutterfly books
Full of pictures with memories
from my childhood and before.
These pictures show the the things, people, and events
that have shaped me through the years.