I Am From

I am from books, books, rows of books
(new but dusty,
smelling of must).
I am from my dad's rock-hounding spoils
    amethyst
    quartz
    agate,
The smell of polishing dust,
I am from the tree house
   and my mother's daffodils
   which seemed so good for picking
   but which earned me a spanking.
I am from the paper-trunk tree, its layers never ending.
I am from "friends come and go, but family lasts forever"
I am from "tell your brother you're sorry" and "let's all calm down".
I am from Anthony and Anne,
   tales of grandma from when mom was young.
I am from her lasagna and real spaghetti sauce.
I am from Miriam's lily paintings and the Lennox pattern kilt.
I am from precious memories--
   rings and pictures stored in a green, Italian music box
   playing "Come Back to Sicily".