I’m from night shifts and “Shh! Mom’s sleeping!”
I’m from food stamps and food banks,
From Goodwill clothing, and “maybe next month.”
I am from Easter Egg hunts, and Christmas lunch.
I am from “Do this,” and “Don’t trust him.”
I am from racist jokes, and marijuana smoke.
I am from Vaughn’s chicken and climbing maples.
I’m from fireworks over the lake, and cannons at Fort Picket.
I’m from barefoot and dirty.
I’m from sweet gum and wild mint
(Both lovely on the tongue).
I am from “Make it happen!” and “You can’t do it!”
From “What a freak!” and “How beautiful.”
From “Study this,” and “Make money.”
From cheap cars, and brown dogs.
From tiny houses, and big families.
There is a house that’s blue.
We left it.
My childhood and furniture abandoned.
“Money is everything.”
