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2..left me out of words..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This poem way too perfect... I just love it... The last line was my favorite, because it seems like you had put your heart and soul in it... 5/5

Wow,Wow,Wow!

This poem is personal, yet hits me to the core. You have painted vivid descriptions of life in your shoes. I read your #2 and it seemed to be a rough draft for #1. Though both are beautiful this one packs more punch.

I am from shells, Marlboro Lights, and pita.
from the same old house I've been living in
since second grade.
I am from home-grown tomatoes.
From the ones our grandmothers planted,
their withered hands tending for them.

^^^ This stanza really packs a whopping, it gives definition to where your future and past
collide.

I am from Catholics and Muslims.

^ though I didn't understand some of the terminology you used in the second stanza this line hit home with me. Two different households together under one roof. A child whose culture has yet to be defined.

" from the place that no one seems to know
where the location is
I am from the pictures that were burned,
ripped, stuffed in boxes, and shoved under beds"

^^ Last stanza I am left speechless. It has a very nice impact while delivering the punch to the gut.

I did not review this poem for any technicalities such as grammar or form, in my opinion it needs none. The message is by far too great and definitely overshadowed anything else. Absolutely wonderful Job!

Congrats on your win :)

Is this at all inspired by George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From"? I had an assignment to write a poem based off of that, and it seems like this one was, too.

The last stanza is gorgeous, in particular, but I think the phrases or words in another language are what made the poem work. Because those are individual and speak to you more than to us, and it creates a backstory and an identity without telling us what it is. In that sense the inaccessibility works quite well.

From the ones who met in a refugee camp,
from the place that no one seems to know
where the location is,
I am from the pictures that were burned,
ripped, stuffed in boxes, and shoved under beds.

^ I was really dragged away with this stanza.
It reads like a movie.. a very quick movie.. maybe on 32x forward button!! AMAZING.

It really moved me..

And I kind of like the foreign words you have used.. It kind of reminds me of my culture.. Arabian culture.

Perfectly penned!

I LOVE THIS, Erna.

I LOVE IT!

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

Stunning piece unique and unbelievable ... well penned indeed :) 5/5

Tony x

A spell binding piece of ones thoughts, journey in life and seeking for self satisfaction. Very charming, pure and emotional.

The use of language to portray your feelings gives it that unique touch thus crowning it all with your beautiful wordings.

I love this piece so much, inspiring and close to the heart. Something I can read over and over without getting tired because it's not boring at all but rather intoxicating.

Keep up the good work, KUDOS! Mashallah.

Hey, Erna. I know you're not active on here anymore, but I have missed your writes, especially this one. This is a piece that had hit home at the time and still gets to touch me deeply every time I re-read it.
Love you.

Really loved it. Excellent write.