Where I'm From

As part of our training, we had to write a poem modelled after one by George Ella Lyon. I banged this out at 7:30 in the morning. Here goes nothing.


I am from babi pongteh
from ayam buah keluak and ayam penyet
I am from the rempah lovingly made by pestle and mortar
(Rich, red
it tastes like velvet)
I am from the mango tree,
the pandan leaves
my father used to make us pee on
to make them flourish and flower

I am from Milo and animal biscuits
    from Tintin and Enid Blyton
I'm from the hand-me-downs
   and the forget-me-nots,
from the sit down and shut up.
I'm from the Hail Marys
   with the parting of the Red Sea

and the separation of sexes.

That's about it! I should write the last stanza to wrap it up.

I miss my father.