My Origins

I am from the smell of milky baby powder,
from the smell of cherry red lipstick.
I am from the taste of rich chocolate ice cream,
slightly melted from the glaring sun.
I am the from the familiar scene of waves crashing lazily against green rocks,
from the people lined up along the dock with seagulls above.
I am from the cheeseburgers and elegant roses,
from Eun Sook and Chang Oh.
I'm from the Get away from the TV and time for work,
from play with your toys and pipe down.
I'm from Bong il's branch,
instant ramen and rice.
From the appendix that throbbed in pain for my brother
to the stomach virus of my mother.
Inside the closet in a simple blood red book,
hazy faces that never appear in my dreams.
I am from the from the white waves
before I come crashing onto the shore of my family.