I Am From . . . the poetry of my students

This year I am teaching five classes of 9th grade English. Each student wrote an "I am from" poem. Here is our class poem, built from their disparate and echoed lines . . .

I am from the ordinary things; ordinary places; ordinary feelings; ordinary life.
I am from the letters in the word “Latina,”
And brown skin, black hair and dark brown eyes,
From the hard work my grandfather did on the farms,
The effort that my dad put to finish his education for a better future for his and our lives,
From the mother that came across the border to make my life better.
I’m from California and hardworking ranch ancestors,
From tortillas and avocados,
From lumpia and pancit;
I am from aguas frescas, from mangoes and watermelons,
From tamales and pasole, cooking in the kitchen.
I’m from playing soccer with my family and going to church every Sunday,
From Santa knows you’re awake and put your tooth under the pillow.
I am from the ocean,
The seaweed, drifting, shifting, always restless,
From the alarm clock that won’t stop.
I’m from the love of El Salvador y Guatemala;
I am from the 15 de Septiembre.
I am from the heart-filling moments when everyone is together, united as one,
From stop fighting with your sisters, make up, and say sorry.
I’m from the proud . . . and the humble.
I’m from fights that never seem to end and from feelings you hold back,
From hola mijo and que onda.
I am from the rain and thunder, cold air and water that have not poured since last year,
From have pride in your culture and give respect to get respect.
I’m from love is patient; love is kind, and the whole verse of how love should be,
From photo album after photo album in the overwhelming bookcase,
Each with many faces in many places,
With a memory and story behind them all.
I am from home,
A place where I can find myself close to care, truth, hope, enjoyment, happiness, affection,
And love.