Schools

Poem: Elaine Hsieh's 'Where I'm From'

In honor of National Poetry Month, Raymond J. Fisher Middle School eighth-grader Elaine Hsieh shared this poem with Los Gatos Patch. Elaine also read it during the April 2 Los Gatos Town Council meeting.

I am from my backyard, from broken tables, old bikes,

From old fish bowls and a fishing rod I’ve never used,

To old soil and dead leaves on the wall.

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I am from the kitchen, from foods like pasta, sushi, and cookies,

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From the taste of many types of ice cream,

To the smell of fruits like peaches and oranges.

I am from my room, from stuffed animals and books,

From blankets petite and huge,

To boxes full of what others call trash that I keep.

 

I am from secret places, from journals,

From notebooks with my drawings, pictures, and words,

To pictures of me at almost all ages.

 

I am from my mother, my father,

From fifteen cousins, eight girls and seven boys,

 To stories about life in Taiwan.

 I am from my memories, from a massive family, spread apart,

 And an infinite amount of different memories,

To feeling squished into a box, where sometimes, I cannot think straight.


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