I am from sheets of music
Lying on the bed
Guitars propped up
I am from brothers’ clothes
The buttonhook on dad’s hand
In the backyard of summer
I am from bike jumps and bloody knees
Prayers and backrubs by my bedside
Dad’s surprise tickle attacks
I am from kleenexes
Tucked in a sleeve in case of tears
I am from a late night movie
On a school night
I am from cake rolls
Cinnamon gum in a purse
Crowds of people laughing
Cousins joking
Till stomachs hurt
I am from dirt paths
Cutting down Christmas trees
A small cabin overflowing
The clean plate club
Pink curlers and the boxcar children
Popcorn clouded skies
Endless with dreams
I am from sock fights on rainy days
Mochas and listening from blue eyes
The patience that taught me to drive
Taught me to live
I am from hands that let go
Freedom to become
Freedom to sing my own song
That love
Even so
I am from bike rides and road trips
Books on tape
Stories around a campfire
Guitars around a campfire
I am from cheers at soccer games
I am from cheering
At football
At basketball
At the Depot
I am from being amazed
At songs they write
At their humor
At their love
For a sister in tears
Or a sister on an amateur stage
Or at a project on beach
Or a sister in a fight
Even so
They love
I am from drums in the basement
Microphones and speakers
Crowds of boys in the house
I am from wanting to be cool
Like them
I am from the Christmas walk
Birthday Breakfast in bed
Cinnamon Rolls on Christmas
From homemade dinner
From buttons re-sewn
From fingers calming my back
Hot chocolate after
The snow jumps we made
I am from clothes on my back
And shoes on my feet
Dinner on the table
Every night
Lots of kids don’t have that
I am from fights and misunderstanding
And a powerful grace
Moments of re-creation
Redemption at work
A puzzle never-ending
Still being pieced
I am from a goofy face
Peering in the door crack
Holding a football blanket
Asking to sleepover
Night after night
Late night chats about mistakes
About redemption
Backrubs and peanut butter
Harmonizing to songs
I am from his hands
Showing me A, B, C, D
From power chords
And re-writing songs
His help, his intellect
His honesty
Another goofy face
Making me laugh
Making me think deep
Over coffee
Over a kid’s ice cream cone
Creative ideas
Made into real life
I am from the tree house
The boat, the music
I am from vanilla dipped in chocolate
At the drive through
Chocolate chip cookies
Baking
I am from their genuine songs
Ears and eyes
Gets louder, wiser
Freer
Over time