(for Dad)

I am from basketball shorts,
from Nike and Under Armour.
I am from planting the flowers in the backyard.
I’m from the raspberry bush,
the Ravalli meadow apple trees.

I am from hunting camp, and Republicans,
From Grandpa, Grandma, and my Dad.
I am from words of an athlete and the life of a farmer.
From the be thankful and mind your manners.
I am from Sunday morning church
and the Ten Commandments.

Im from St. Josephs Hospital in Missoula,
from beef and mashed potatoes.
From the laughter of being chased by a mad cow
and Roger knocking Grandma down the hill.

I am from photos hanging upon the walls,
old memories, laughs and cries,
hugs and goodbyes.

I am from Western Family and Pamida.
I am form the two-bedroom apartment
(Small, hard to move around in).
I am from the juniper bush, the pine trees.

I am from tortillas and black hair,
from Joseph and Maggie.
I am from the loud-laughers and creativeness,
from behave and be quiet.
I am from the little children’s Bible
with the picture of David and Goliath.

I’m from Montana,
rice and beans,
from the dentures of my grandfather
falling out of his mouth,
from the trip my grandmother took to Ecuador.

I am from the old oak chest
put in a cold storage shed,
waiting for a safe place.