Literature

I am from North Seattle Pediatrics, 

The bright Halloween-striped clownfish swimming up and down the tank,

The Disney stickers lining up and down the walls,

Some peeling with the pale green wallpaper. 

From the cookie dough kid’s scoop, crunchy, soft, chocolatey, and very filling,

To the chocolate fudge adult-size

And the snowy peak poking through the clouds on a foggy day, 

droplets of rain hitting my face.

 

I am from the smell of rain and haze, earthy and smoky,

From the sambal stingray blanketing my taste buds,

Spicy and tangy, tears in my eyes. 

I’m from the bus pulling up every day at 6:00 am,

From the moist rain covering all visible concrete, 

The dark sky was illuminated with the soft glow of streetlights,

And the taste of Korean BBQ every other week,

Beef and bulgogi taste like heaven to me.

 

I am from the chilly Kona Ice every warm Wednesday 

Blue Raspberry and Tiger’s Blood (of course)

From the 7:45 walk to the flat, red building that seems covered by the spiky porcupine-like bushes.

I’m from the COVID bike rides up the dry, cracked, slanted hill

the snake popping, the frog pancaked.

 

I am from the stacked debate papers, 

ripped-up sheets filled with red marks and tear stains, 

the endless prepping on school days, 

Sleep deprived, running on 4 hours of sleep, dark circles protruding

the constant tournaments, 

twelve-hour days, sometimes even more.

I am from MUN conferences, 

The position paper dilemma, the name tags tilted.

 

I am from the 5-Star Era, the Back Door, the Hall of Fame

From the bright red tteokbokki to the daily food provided to me.

I am from these memories, like a cherry blossom blooming in a tree.