I am from the field,

from cattle and hay bales.

I am from the kittens

            being born in the barn.

Running from the house to farm.

And the pet goat that kept a watch on us.

I am from the ancient computer.

The Playstation

we played every day

that gave me my love for video games.

I’m from Winnipeg Girls’ Choir,

from singing before I could speak.

I’m from Sharon

            and Lois

            and Bram

and my mommy singing me to sleep.

I’m from the Museum and

            Lower Fort Garry,

a family of intellectuals and historians.

Being a child only six years old

and wanting to be a supermodel

to studying people much later on.

I’m from bad jokes, heavy accents and history lessons,

from Armin and Renate.

I’m from the Girl Power!, You’re it!

and best friends forever,

from cross your heart and hope to die.

I’m from diktat und pause und Deutsch.

German school on Saturdays

with foreign compositions to endure.

I’m from love and caring and compassion,

from putting garlic in every meal.

I’m from candles and paint cans

            and photos,

from hanging with the guys

at the motocross races every summer.

I’m from punk rock, from indie and ska,

from singing in an Irish punk band.

I’m from Student council

            and sexuality and stuff,

and finding the people that really care.

I’m from three girls I loved so dearly

that slowly dropped out of my life.

I’m from a mother who took

            such good care of me,

even when she wore a wig

to hide the bald no one should see.

From shoe boxes in my bookcase

old notes and pictures burst.

Best friends long gone

and some that just arrived.

I am from the memories

of a time now lost.

A time when life was simple.