I'm from...

I am from a one parent household run by just my mother.
In the house lived my mother, my older brother and me.
My older brother and I quickly saw her as also our father, since our father is who we didn’t see. I'm from never being able to hear "how's daddy's little girl", because he was never there to say those words to me.

From sitting between my mothers’s knees waiting to be free.
While she puts my hair in ponytails made from barrettes and beads.
But in reality, I was never really free, because I am from the home of the Rose Bowl and violence was heavy, so in the house is where I had to be.

I'm from fried chicken, cornbread, and the strong smell of vinegar mixed in some collard greens. I am from my grandmother and her daughters in the kitchen preparing the soul food to cure all of our needs.
I'm from the cheesiest mac & cheese, green beans, and black eyed peas.
I'm from a strict grandmother that made me finish every bite of my food before I could have something to drink.
I am from being full, but thirsty and all I could do was sit there and think.

I am from do good, be smart, and get good grades.I'm from hearing don't worry about playing a sport, let Rodrick do that and just sit and behave.
I am from obeying my mother and smart is what she wanted so there was nothing more to say.
And although I knew how to play sports, I knew it was my place to just get good grades.
Good grades are what I got, and now I'm in college.And I will make sure to make my mommy proud and give it all that I've got.