This Is Me

 Ashley Belgarde

I am from the dusty piano keys,

unmade bed, & the abandoned half

empty glass, or perhaps half full.

I am from the three bean salad,

cigarette butts, & the American flag

that constantly sways in the wind.

I am from upstate, where summer

nights are chilly, & winter nights

are bitter, & the Canadian phrase

“eigh” is over used.

I am from spittin’ snow, four leaf

clovers, “Ich liebe dich”, & the hidey hole

under the stairs.

I am from the leaves that turn inside

out when it’s going to storm, barking

dogs, & blue & white stripes.

I am from stop signs, right turns,

& wrong turns. I am the mistakes &

regrets of life, & the daughter I never

thought I would become.

I am from the Belgarde’s, Nash’s, &

the O’Finnegan’s. I am the items on top

of the shelves, the framed pictures, and

old journal entries.

I am the heart & soul of my body,

his creation, I am alive.