An “exercise” to write a poem about ones origins with the words I am from… inspired me to write this poem.

I am from the dark side of the moon, blood born, secretly shining.

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I am from puma, stalking your memories, invading your minds,.

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I am from Gottlieb, who left Swiss mountains 150 years ago at 18 to avoid

becoming a mercenary, moved to Missouri, created a farm. His cultivator

sets in my front garden.

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I am from persons Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, who sailed seas, met strangers, loved.

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I am from Esan, a Nigerian tribe about which I knew nothing until a DNA test revealed,

ancient, black, beautiful.

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I am from Latin America, Colombian, Peruvian, Puerto Rican–wanderers, explorers.

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I am from Slavic peoples. Byzantine, Macedonian, Alexander the Great.

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I am from brave wandering ancestors–Asian, Latin, Toscani Italian, French, German, Swiss, Slavic, Iberian.

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I am from J haploid group, people who left the northern Middle East 7000 years ago,

wandered, explored, populated Western Europe.

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I am from farmers, Doyle and Barbara, who grew corn, wheat, soybeans, Hereford and Charolaise cattle

to whom I carried salt blocks as a child.

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I am from Sacred Corn, the nourisher, singing on hot summers, growing.

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I am from the sweet smell of Jasmine, Roses, Honeysuckle, winding up walls, overgrowing gardens,

giving people hope.

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I am from lemons, figs, dates, pomegranates, golden, dark, red, tropical, lingering.

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I am from Stars, universal child, born on sacred ground, singing infinite songs.

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