Reflective Poem

Reflective Poem

Moss laden pathways filled with the scent of skunk cabbage

These are the highways of my youth

Transporting me from abandoned log cabin to mud drenched cave

Free to scavenge, discover, create, imagine.

I was given many gifts.

The gift of freedom, of challenge, of accomplishment.

Opportunity to grow and show what I was capable of

Opportunity to try and fail with support to fall back on

Never meant to feel like a failure or that I needed to try harder

Back home, a warm house filled with love and laughter

Tireless parents who always managed to find time for me

I was never a burden, never an inconvenience,

Extended family surrounded me. Bringing excitement and connection

A cultural connection. I was always one but tied to another.

I wanted simple tuna sandwiches but ate eggplant parmigana at lunch

Feeling like I was part of one culture but reminded daily that I was part of another

I disliked it. I grappled with it. Now it is something that I cherish

I teach. I am part culture, part freedom, part adventure, part responsibility

I want to support, respect and challenge

Assistance without