Where I'm From

Our class had a small poetry slam this week and the the prompt was to tell about where they are from.  These are my favorites:

I'm from somewhere besides poverty and the rez
I'm from a place of STRONG people and STRONG land.
I'm not dumb!  I am smart!

Yes, I realize the place I'm from is not famous.
Nor rich.
Nor envied.
Nor sunny at times.
But the place I'm from is Strong
And it always will be.

No, I realize people don't get a chance here.
We don't have theatre schools.
Nor dance schools.
Nor basketball clubs.
We work extra hard for the things we want
And sometimes we don't get them.

We've worked so hard and it doesn't come.
We're angry.
We grieve.
We're upset.
But we have to remember all that we sacrificed
We can be proud we took the time and worked for something.

So yes, my people may not get a chance to famous
Or known
But my people know how to work
In the end, that's all the counts.

R.A., 15