Photo by Mayim Richman

I am from the hot humid summers of North Carolina

From the lake that always seems to be perfect

From finding the rock out in the deep side

From swimming the whole way to the boat 

Alone

Reaching out my arms to touch the perfect blue sky

On my cousin's shoulders 

Who is 

On my cousin's shoulders

Tumbling back into the water with a big splash

And the cheering of the others and the feeling on top

Makes the water in my nose

Disappear

I am from the rain falling down

And the silence under the water

From the mad dash to the dock at the sight of a yellow flash

And a thunderous boom

From always ending up as the last one still in the water 

The sound of people’s bare feet 

Crunching the grass

On the way back to the house

Picking fresh tomatoes and blueberries on the way

My feet 

Slapping on the stone path

Always taking the top route

It seemed there was always someone

To race home

Beating them

Unless I met a dog 

On the way

People running to the showers 

And challenging 

Cousins

Aunts

Uncles

Grandfathers

Grandmothers 

To games of dominoes

Or cards

I am from running outside 

Not minding that it's raining

During those precious hours of dusk

When the fireflies come out

Lighting up the sky

Blinking

Flashing

Soaring through the air

I am from the big buffet dinners

From the squabbling over the best seats

And endless games of 

Triopoly and

Spoons

Mom telling us to go to bed

But always ending up

Getting more time

Finally crawling into bed

Falling asleep

To rain pattering the windows and roof

To crickets chirping

To frogs peeping

To the wind whispering a lullaby 

To the thought of another day

In the sun