I am from a family of single moms
Forced to play the roles of mother and father
I am from an empty home and an empty bed,
That I would only come to lay my head on at night
I am from a front door with four locks,
which I could only open to a secret knock
Up, down, side, side
I am from the “ghetto”
Where you have to walk home with your eyes glued to the concrete to avoid trouble
I am from hospital room number 5,
The one that smelled like Pepto Bismol and had princess stickers all over the walls
I am from nebulizers and asthma pumps that were meant to help me,
But instead kept me from my childhood
I am from the Barnes and Noble on 86th Street,
My only sanctuary during my adolescence
Now, I am from Sophie Davis
a place that seems like a miracle but that will take me to my dreams