I am from the holas and como estas.

I am from my abuelo (grandfather) Pedro’s stories.

From the tio conejo (uncle rabbit) and the tio coyote stories (uncle coyote). [these were the primary characters in my grandfather’s stories]

The black beans and the soft home cooked tortillas.

I am from the country of the eternal spring (Guatemala).

The tall and majestic mountains and the vast rivers.

I am from the adobe houses and corn plantations.

The meringue, salsa and marimba at parties.

From the cooked plantain and the carne asada.

I am from subsistence farming.

I am from ven a comer mijo (come and eat my son).

I am from the small church in a small isolated town.

I am from the city of bridges.

The playing soccer at the lake.

And the constant sound of cars passing by.

I am from contemplating my past.

To formulating my future.

From pensive postures to bored slouches.

To reading classics.

I am from the tales of Dante, Homer and Jules Verne.

To the poems and stories of Mister Edgar Allen Poe.

I am from calculators and rulers.

I am from the chess games with my father.

I am from analytical views.

To being prepared.

I am From the teachings of my parents “always be responsible”.

I am from meditating.

I am from the cubby hole in my cherry tree.

I am from the foreclosed residencies.

From the sacred family church.

The culture I refuse to forget.

I am from a family of go getters.

The strong beliefs in morals and ethics.

I am from “What comes around goes around”.

I am from seeing the good and the bad in people.

I am from the old and the new.

-Manuel G. Martinez