2025/Kaspian -

I am from The Land of Enchantment

From the Tar Heel State and The Island of Warriors.

I am from Palmetto palms under the blue skies

It smelled like mud and dirt.

I am from the Land of the Morning Calm

The endless cold weather making people freeze in the snow

Whose tropical palm trees I remember

As if they were my own.

I am from the dandelion and the night shift,

From Sonny and Chirs

I am from the creative

And the funny.

From “That's enough!” and “Clean out the litter box!”

I am from my Dad’s Pandora

With a lot shedding

And ten jumping jacks I can do myself.

I’m from the mango fruit and carrot lovers,

Mexican food and palm trees.

From the pup lost to the car crash

To the black and red wallet used to keep my clinking change.

Under my bed was an empty space spilling dust

A fat lazy cat, playful with lots of energy

To drift beneath my dreams.

I am from those moments

Grew before I withered.

I am a leaf falling from the family tree.