by Meghan Ford

I am from ripped nails, the cost of nerves.

I am from aching sides, the price of laughter.

I am from mamones; sour; bitter; sweet.

I come from green mangos con sal.

From Squirt, filled with bubbles that dance on your tongue.

The glass is green.

35 cents, please.

I am from freedom.

It taste like lime cookies, sharp and sudden.

I am from rice and beans, too hot on a roasting day.

I am from Susi and bottle cap baseball.

I come from calls of “Buenas”

And murmurs of “Gracias a Dios”

I am from voodoo dolls in the cemetery and scorpions in umbrellas.

I come from a too full stomach from too much food,

From generous spirits,

And awkwardness turned into love.

I am from an aching heart, a torn mind, a loved soul.

I come from the slimy feet of a frog running across your own.

I am from confusion and barking dogs.

I come from cold showers when you’ve sweated out all your water,

When you’ve given everything,

So there’s nothing left.

I am from feeling lost,

And then a moment later, found.

I am from “el gato” who stole the cookies.

I come from Wa and Ninja and fighting over who gets which tree.

I am from Adele’s Rolling in the Deep,

And Mas 23.

I come from calls of "chickennn"

Broken English,

Broken Spanish.

They all sound the same.

I come from counting down days until letters.

I come from sending wishes home through the moon.

I am from watching the stars paint the sky as you brush your teeth.

I come from mosquito nets,

And rain that is so thick you can’t see through it.

I am from freedom.

The brick lifted from your stomach.

It looks like Rachael

Carmen,

Arielito,

Ana,

Leidys.

I am from happiness,

From so much love, it’s hard to breathe.

I am from Santa Isabel,

Los Santos,

Azuero,

Panama.

I am from AMIGOS,

This is me.