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Home
I am from the Estrellas, Celestines and Nolyas back home
from the dusty, crop-lined gravel roads of Mallet—
stalks of cane flittering in the wind
And from fresh pineapple ice cream
churned to perfection by the tired hand of my mother.
I am from sweltering evenings
spent basking among the cool shadows of fig trees,
and from persimmons and maypops and blackberry stained hands
sore from years of jacks and tic tac toe.
I am from acres of land littered with chickens, cows, hogs and cats—
a yardful of life.
And from adventures to the bayou—
returning home with a glittering jar of minnows
filled to the brim with the sludgy “Loo-Zee-Anna” water
I am from a plethora of Tupperware
cushioning my soggy cornbread crumbling in a pool of milk
And from rice and gravy cooked in mother’s stuffy kitchen—
washed down with a tall glass of Kool_Aid.
My life is a rich history filled with stories left untold,
one that continues to grow with each passing moment
one that my children will explore—
when the time is right
and the cycle continues
through the lives of my grandchildren
Danielle Durousseau, Age 16
LSU University Lab School
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Teacher: Connie McDonald
