Rose M. De Leon

We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday
And days before that, too.
We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.
Now all we have are memories
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake
With which we'll never part.
God has you in his keeping.
We have you in our heart.

I am from the love of my family.
I am from my mom, my dad, my grandmother, and my grandfather.

I am from sweet baked cakes, homemade cornbread,
and all the smells of the world.

I am from good jobs, great effort, and "GO TO YOUR ROOM."
I am from thick and thin, cold and hot.

I am from stories from my neighbors, from my dad and my mom, from my nephew and nieces.
Stories to stay strong.

I am from childhood pictures and baby toys.
From rattles, pacifiers and bottles.

I am from my mother's stomach
where she held me for nine full months.

I am from good and bad.
I am from music of ALL kinds.

I am from feast such as parties.
I am from piñatas, candy and ice cream. I am from all kinds of fun.

I am from "I got your back" and "You're one of a kind."
I am from love and harmony and everyone around me.

I am from hard and soft.
I am from my father's heart and my mother's love.... I am from the hands of God.