I am From

Kirstin Lewis
I am From Poem…

I am from…
Jungle leaves and tropical petals
Doorways that lead only to the ocean floor
Blistered feet and underground railroads
Clinched fingers and raised fists
The blood of Malcolm, Rosa and Angela

So, I am empowered

I am from depression, smoggy streets and gang signs
Twisted fingers and neighborhood calls
Crack pipes on playgrounds and pigeons in streets
Decade old textbooks and shoot-outs in parking lots

So I am broken

I am from afro centricity mixed with hip-hop
Originality, the pure essence of uniqueness
A sense of empowerment so real
The words to sculpt perfect poetry

Therefore I am rediscovered

I am my ancestors
I carry their burdens and wipe their tears
I cry out for my people and try to find a solution
I am on the road of discovering self
In hopes, at the end, to find the truest form
Of me.