I Am From Poem by Evelyn Nesselrode Nesselrode

I am from China
I am from oracles and history of asia and my ancestors
From Chinese ledgends of Chang'e and Sun Wukong

I am from the silt the yellow River left after flooding
Brown and smooth giving crops the chance to thrive

I am from the derogative words of chink and Chong
I am from the tears and blood that my ancestors shed while building a metal railroad to connect a country that wasn't theirs

I am from diplomas of medicine, math, science, and engineering
Hoping for an education
So we will have a better life than our
immigrant parents
I am from rice fields and plantations
The rice that fills our bellies
The rice that grew with the help of silt from Chinas Sorrow

I am from the words of Laozi
The works of Confucius and the exam system

I am from Chinese American adoptee
From not being Asian enough and not American enough
From thoughts I can't help wondering of " what my life would have been"and
"My identity, I'm unaware"
From searching for my roots

I am from where streets are filled with the aroma of dumplings and shrimp
Where the sweet taste of green tea is never far away
I am from where noodles are slurped
I am from the sweetness
of bao buns and moon cakes
I am from Guangzhou
The capital and biggest port city in Guangdong province

I am from the Chinese zodiac
from the year of the dog,2006
From the Dogs honesty, loyalty, frankness characteristics

I am from tiāndēngm a sky paper lantern
Filing the sky's with light
Without the lanterns light
China would be dark
darkness here
darkness there
Would the same as darkness everywhere

Without china
My world
My ancestors world
Has no origin
No cultural
We would have nothing
To make this cold harsh world
Feel safer better and like home
I Am
From China