I’m from stuffed animals,
An aged alligator who never left my chubby toddler hands,
Who now rests in a bin somewhere.
I am from laughter,
From gripping my gut as my grandpa laughed with me.
I’m from the water,
From the pool in my backyard and the dirty lake I splashed in,
From the very first time I drove a boat,
And learned to scuba dive under the salty waves.
I’m from the cold,
My cheeks and nose bitten pink...