Where I'm From

Where I'm From

I am from original thinkers
from laying on the soccer field during a game,
from refusing to dance in ballet.

I'm from phrases such as, "you're late,"
even though I was always punctual.
from aggravating moments when counting to five seemed like the hardest thing in the world,
from the key signatures of B flat and A major,
from the smell and sound of Rosin being put on horse hair.

I'm from a father who would read about the Third Reich and the History of the Potato,
but who would always have time to take me fishing.
I'm from a mother who would practice her violin, so that it
echoed through the house, filling every fiber of your being with notes composed by
either opera dude, or symphony man.

I'm from screaming about the violin,
from crying over the cello's effect on me.
From secretely loving every second of practicing's agony,
from knowing that what you put in, is what you'll recieve.

I'm from spending more time with family friends than with relatives,
From acting out our own soap opera, complete with a grass fight which ensued after
almost every installment.
I'm from parties where everyone contributed,
from people who always would recognize you for who you were.

I'm from a home made swing set,
from dumpster diving for materials and finding treasures such as the
pieces of wood with painted dolphins on them.
From an overgrown garden and a messy house,
from caring more about what the product turned out to be instead
of the process you took to reach it.

I'm from big dreams,
from not fearing the menacing ripples of water,
from hitting the wall hard and using it to your advantage.
I'm from preferring to be pushed when I was on the red tricycle,
from not wanting anyone to help me hold a pencil.

I'm from the outliers of Cedar Falls.
From the unique who will never hide it,
from the strange who will never deny it.
I am from basics,
from things surrounded by confusion.
From not growing up with poetry, John Lennon, or the Rolling Stones,
from living, surrounded with thoughts of my own.
Including thoughts about myself.