I Am From...
I am from the tiny white grains of Oryza Sativa
From the aromatic scents of fish sauce and vinegar.
I am from the primitive, handcrafted bamboo house
With a roof made of eco-friendly and feather-leaved palms,
Savored with the smell of flickering lantern kerosene,
engulfed with the light of loud, contagious laughter,
Swamped with the grilling taste of eggplants on top of the crackling wood fire.
I am from the long, sturdy vine of wild yam or a mountain potato,
The Santol tree whose long-gone limbs I remember as if they were my own.
I am from a family of six that sleep all together in the only room in the house.
From the alcoholic Elpidio and the faint-hearted Reynalda.
I am from early to bed, early to rise,
From Christmases with no present, but mere presence.
I am from the strain of poverty and hopelessness,
And “Education is priceless that no one can buy it.”
I am from performing hard labor in the green fields
And taking breaks under the bushy tree of shades.
I am from the hopes and dreams of Brookside,
And the river with overflowing love, generosity,
Kindness and perseverance,
As well as having meals with my innocent hands.
I am from the agonizing thoughts of slavery and oppression,
The hidden thoughts of no degrees,
No careers
No families
No choices but to stay the same
Buried under the funk, deep and sullen.
I am from the scarcity of “Believe in Yourself!”,
From the dearth of “I can do this!”,
And from the lapses of “You are enough!”
I am from the depths of isolation and loneliness,
I am from the unexpressed emotions and controlled vibrations.
Furthermore, I am from the sorrowful plate of the past,
Revived and renewed with the present self-love,
Rejuvenated, refreshed with the glimpse of a bountiful time to come.
About this poem
This is a tale of grit and determination, of a young soul who grew up in the midst of the colorful and vibrant country that is the Philippines. Although life was incredibly challenging, with poverty being a constant companion, it was a time that shaped and molded me into the person I would become. Every hardship I encountered only fueled me to dream bigger, aspire higher, and work harder. Now, as I look back at my childhood memories, I see every obstacle as a stepping stone toward a better future. The lack of resources and the scarcity of opportunities served as the perfect motivation to strive for something greater, to not only uplift my own life but to raise my entire family out of poverty. With each passing day, I developed an unbreakable spirit and unshakable faith in myself, my family, and my country. These values would eventually guide me on my journey to the United States, where I would continue to carry my Filipino roots and the lessons I learned throughout my life. For us, this is not just a story of our past, but a testament to the strength, resilience, and perseverance of the Filipino people. And although I may have left my homeland, I will forever carry the spirit of the Philippines in my heart, inspiring me to never give up, no matter how tough the road ahead may be. more »
Written on May 07, 2021
Submitted by Wildflower888 on March 01, 2023
Modified by Wildflower888 on October 16, 2023
- 1:43 min read
- 611 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | ABCXXBB DX CDXE FXXX XXEX GHXHXG AXAFX XAX |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 1,888 |
Words | 345 |
Stanzas | 8 |
Stanza Lengths | 7, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 3 |
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"I Am From..." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/152512/i-am-from...>.
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