I Am From Desire

I am from bean fields and corn and from Iowa

from a house that was large and full.

I am from hollyhocks whose flowers

were made into dolls

I am from a town whose boundaries 

seemed endless though so small.

I am from dreaming and imagining; 

from playmates, pets and playgrounds

I am from conversations with Pat and Rose, 

with Carol Johns and Mrs. Delambert; Gertrude was her name.

From piano lessons and the prairie song

I am from black cherry soda at the baseball park in summer

I am from a small school whose teachers taught more 

than academics; about life and caring and fun.

I am from the wrong side of town 
where I was often looked down upon;

from hand sewn clothes and hand-me-downs.

I am from homemade bread and milk fresh from the cow

Because it was cheaper than the store brands.

From garden grown vegetables and oatmeal with currents

I am from homemade stew.

I am from a small school where everybody knew my name;

where teachers knew the sins of my family.

Some judged me for them while some
 had pity on me because of them.

I am from the ones who believed in me

I am from a fatherless teen-hood from a mother 
who worked long hours to provide for those yet to leave home.

I am from learning to work on my own 
from self discipline to succeed

and from resilience to exceed expectations

I am from independence learned to survive

from those who said I could not then proving them wrong.

I am from those who refused to believe in 
the strength of self-reliance

from my own willingness 
to get back up and try again.

I am from prayer, from the prayers of many 

and from the prayers of my own making.

I am from the voice in the wind 
on the high hills and the lowest valleys;

from the One who called me away from the chaos

I am from a refuge and a soft place to lie down.

I am from fighter instincts; 
instincts that tell me what is worth fighting for.

From the anger of an abused woman I stand strong;

powerful within but not so strong I can’t be broken

I am from the power of being free.

I am from friendship with women;

women whose lives speak without the use of words

I am from those who showed me far more than they told me;

and from their laughter when I couldn’t find 
a reason to laugh on my own.

I am from the friendship of my husband;

a man who sees so much potential that I believe it myself.

I am from a love that won’t let go knowing all of my imperfections.

I am from unconditional love.

I am from all these things but ultimately…

I am from an intricate design that won’t be understood

I am from faith that believes I was created for a purpose

I am from a desire to find that purpose

and to do with it as much as I can

Until one day I become too tired to carry on.

I am from desire!