• I am from history.
    Ancestors,
    Old tombs and castles,
    Battles fought long ago,
    Kings ,
    Queens,
    Lords and princes.

    I am from a garden.
    Tulips in spring,
    Petunias,
    Chrysanthemums,
    A big tree, tall and strong,
    Rose bushes,
    Dandelions,
    And sweet honeysuckle
    In the summer.

    I am from books.
    Little leather bound novels
    Full of danger and mystery.
    Roaming the streets of Europe
    With Sherlock Holmes
    The Count of Monte Cristo
    And the Three Musketeers,
    And starving and stealing
    With Oliver Twist.

    I am from water.
    Swimming lessons,
    Races to win or lose,
    The beach
    With sand between my toes,
    The smell of chlorine,
    Butterfly,
    Backstroke,
    And freestyle.

    I am from ballet.
    Splits ,
    Ronde de jambs,
    And port de bras,
    Leaps,
    Landings,
    And curtsies.

    I am from cooking.
    Ingredients,
    Recipes,
    Cups,
    Tablespoons,
    And teaspoons,
    Granny’s macaroni and cheese,
    Grandma’s tapioca,
    And New York cheesecake.

    I am from Germany.
    A moving truck,
    Boxes,
    Crates,
    A white stucco house
    With a red terracotta roof,
    A military base,
    ID cards,
    And the Euro,
    Downtown Wiesbaden,
    A swim team,
    And friends all over the world.
    Countries I’ve been to
    Spain,
    Italy,
    Belgium.
    And Turkey,
    And many others.

    I am from the flow of life.
    Trials and errors,
    Happiness,
    Love,
    A journey,
    Culture,
    Friends and family.

    I am who I am,
    And always will be.