Where I’m From

I am from coffee mugs, from sriracha sauce and Apple.

I am from sesame sticks and the Clavinova, my brother’s electric grand piano that he got as a graduation gift.

I am from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Arrested Development, and the Winter Olympics.

I am from A Charlie Brown Christmas and Criminal Minds, from “Taste the Rainbow,” and “Not the worst coffee in flyover country” and “Dad’ll do it.”

I am from The Onion and YouTube. From “Play it safe around power lines” and “God is bigger than the boogeyman.”

I am from Tulsa. From music, tea leaves, modesty, and bargain hunting.

I am from Smoke, a classy grill on Cherry Street filled with the sweet aroma of tobacco.

From watching The Office while cracking the crusts on our crème brûlée; playing ukulele on the rocks while Annie takes pictures.

I am from classical music and Sufjan Stevens, from “In a Sweater Poorly Knit” and “Elephant Gun.”

I am from festive music exchanging parties with my brothers and sitting, isolated, in a dark room with headphones.

I am at rest, sitting on the porch watching the rain drip down from the edge of the roof while I sip on an Americano.