Where I'm From
Emily Genao, 12th grade, East Side Community High School 

I am from cigarette and gum riddled sidewalks 
Sprouts of green blades rising through the cracks 
Highways and water roads 
Neighborhood Grandmaster Flashes and Funkmaster Flexes 
Spinning latest radio clips for project ears 
I am from Mudd Jeans and UFOs 
Short shirts and fresh white tees 
Puerto Rican mother 
Dominican father 
But some people would put testify on a stack on 12 Bibles 
That I got some Italian in me 
Maybe it's the way my voice glitches and I begin to make 
Someone an offer they couldn't refuse 
I am from lowlifes and high living 
Joan Jett "I Love Rock and Roll" leather 
Victoria Secret new spring line lace 
Patented raised eyebrow and spewing sarcasm because the war is not in my 
name 
Smirks and stares 
Caring and not being deemed worthy of the extra ticks and tocks in someone's 
day planner 
I am from smooth beats and rock riffs 
From single syllable greetings to 
Multi faceted attitudes 
Running away from myself the 
Sitting on the couch in my jammies eating a bowl of Lucky Charms bigger than 
my head 
Watching my favorite cartoons 
Loving and being the puppy that got a new chew toy 
Breaking hearts and having my wounds flood open, having the blood pouring 
forth drowning me 
I am from "No don't do that" 
To "Ay just do whatever you want" you damn teenager with a mind of your own 
how dare you try to live your own life instead of the one I have dictated 
for you 
From sitting silently in the dark corner writing "I do not need friends" 
1,000 times 
To become a living, breathing, upright walking advertisement for AT&T 
High school hijinks to late night talks about whatever 
With friends that refuse to leave my house 
I am from everything and nothing 
Mortal and immortal 
A twisted fallen angel 
Eternal and not 
Wanting perfection but falling blissfully short of it