I am from Washington State
Where it snows by the foot
Where there is a risk of major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but we still live on
And where I have spent many childhood years living and playing
I am from my home
A nice, cozy, and one-story house made of white stone blocks
From spending holidays dozing in my green bed
To wasting free hours playing random computer games
Or diving into the water in my pool, blue and cool
I am from school
From where I first set foot in Forest Trail
And West Ridge
From doing hours of mind-numbing and math homework and interesting science projects
To writing this poem
I am from Boy Scouts
From working on merit badges, first aid, and advances in the Texas heat
From setting foot on cliff faces in Colorado coldness
From blasting targets with rifles and arrows
From revelling in accomplishment when I advance a rank
I am from my family
Where we speak a different language
Where I am a mutated leaf on the family tree, because I’m different from the rest
On my mom and dad’s branch
Where the majority of us are thousands of miles apart
But still together
I like the ending: the mutated leaf on the family tree. That’s a thought-provoking image.
This is a poem full of meaningful images. Well done, Kevin.