Where I'm From

When they asked me where I was from, I responded Arkansas

She said, you know that’s one of the poorest states

But we were broke, not poor

Syrup sandwiches using white bread, ramen or whatever’s there

Watching taped rerun, reciting words acting as if we truly compare

Asking them who gets toons after the tax holiday

My advanced placement peers perplexed, wondering why I was in the class to stay

Must have knelt down on my knees to pray, in a broken tongue, ruby bridges hopes we clung, angela’s sons and daughters

Woke zombies lambs to the slaughter

Wonder if they care

That we are warmed by the oven, bath water boiled on the stove

Sharing each nook, cranny, and cove

Even piss poor dreams with our brothers, sisters, cousins

Playing the dozens

And any other makeshift made up “don’t touch nothing, cause you ain’t got toy money” games

Using whatever we had

Using whatever we had and could

To make ends meet, hoping the connection creates light from the cored like pineapple great migrations resilient motivations

reaching to ‘ol dude next door

Faintly dusting the floor

Are our passed down pants and bootless feet

We were told to strap up, suck it up

And keep running

Where I’m from