I am from sticker books,
from melting popsicles and rainbow lollipops.
I'm from the home with a passion for small animals.
I am from the luminous stage lights,
the painful mic tape
that slowly rips off in agony yet reassures you of a job well done.
I am from the disposable Kodaks and pressed penny collections,
from general stores and souvenir shops.
I'm from the daily readings of Goodnight Moon,
and family kayaks down the Nissequogue.

I'm from Queens and Russia,
from steaming matzo ball soup and potato latkes.
from the filled passports of grandma,
the evening bike rides with dad.

I am from" A Dream is a Wish You're Heart Makes" and
"You and me, we're the best."
I'm from rainbow stained countertops,
as a result of too much craft time with grandma.

I am from a kind-hearted family with dozens of traditions
That make me who I am.
I am from an imagination,
that illuminates the world one day at a time.