I am from the long answer to the question where are you from.
I am from moving from New Jersey, to Fort Lauderdale, to Syracuse to Los Angeles.
I am definitively from Los Angeles.
I am from the view of the mountains that catch fire
I am from the flames that never reach my house
I am from the earth that shakes just to remind me it’s in charge.
I am from used to go fishing on the Erie Canal to
weeping when I see a fish’s face.
I am from the new golden age of teevee
I am from not drinking for thirty years for no particular reason
to exploring the artistry of a well stocked liquor cabinet.
I am from my mother smoked while she was pregnant and
I got to join the world six weeks early because of it.
I am from skipping Sunday school one year to
being called a Jewish Zealot a couple decades later.
I am from Cheese, the stinkier the better.
I am from cats, the more the merrier.
I am from poetry.
I am from realizing at thirteen all I needed was love
I am from finding that love long after I was thirteen
and never letting go.
I’m from never letting go.