Poem I wrote during the course Hermeneutics of Humour in 2020 during my MA at Antioch University.

I wrote this using “Where I am From” by George Ella Lyon as foundation. I Am From Project is a website to help people of all ages and backgrounds use the “Where I’m From” poem as a prompt to write about experiences that shape them.

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I am from

I am from the diaspora of Republika ng Pilipinas, the biggest export of human labour.     

I am from the Alps of efficiency, watches and high quality.

I am from the love of a landlocked nation to an archipelagic state

I am from the first generation of both lineages to be born on this stolen territory

I am from a sprawling garden and running through sprinklers in the summer

I am from the Disney Renaissance of whitewashed Pocahontas and stereotyped princesses

I am from falling asleep to cassette tapes of Chinese folk tales from the library

I am from cousins sleepovers with a dozen kids slumbering on the living room floor

I am from a home of bedtime stories, cuddles, and beloved traditions

I am from people pleasing and shoulding on myself

I am from after school activities of swimming, figure skating, piano and singing

I am from Pillsbury pizza pops or Bugles as after school snacks

I am from yo-yo diets and decades of body self-shaming

I am from faithful participation in Sunday morning mass to a pendulum swing of Harris, Dawkins, Hitchens and Dennett.

I am from twisted origins of California rolls

I am from the love in which I was created
I am from the love in which I eventually hope to die