Where I’m From Made Me Shaya

Where I’m From Made Me Shaya

I am from my private space in my tub.
I am from my first heartbreak, hating love.
I am from the late night manhunt and slapbox.
I am from the stereo blasting with 112 & The Lox.
I am from the morena that speaks good Spanish.
I am from where around Lita & Buela my color vanishes.
I am from North Carolina & Dominican Republic.
I am from where both sides of my family can never get along in public.
I am from my first heartbreak being my father.
I am from because of this trusting guys is harder and harder.
I am from losing a grant man from an overreaction.
I am from losing out on my heart’s passion.
I am from grandma dying on my birthday.
I am from finding out about best friends the worst way.
I am from addiction to Saks 5th and Bloomingdales.
I am from a house where everyone yells.
I am from being born grown.
I am from losing my virginity alone.
I am from break it up, clean it up, collect the shells if you blast it.
I am from chipping in, don’t steam, just pass it.
I am from being a live wire, mean broad.
I am from where accepting my mother’s side of the family is hard.
I am from having my stomach cut open at 17.
I am from never living out my little girl dream.
I am from doing a bid because of a snitch.
I am from a motivation of society’s poor, but living rich.
I am from rubber grips, Smith and Wessons, and dirt bikes
I am from Range Rovers, fly guys, Polo v-necks and put in work right.
I am from slicing, stabbing, shooting, shocker and he still won’t die.
I am from losing my baby and I still haven’t broken down to cry.
I am from my daughter, basketball and rapping is my life.
I am from denying Curtis’ proposal to be his wife, twice.
I am from a heartbeat in my brain that’s constantly
beating, breaking,
breathing, bleeding,
hard, harder,
fast, faster,
loud, loud, louder.
Then it stops, just when I think it’s the end,
It replays in my mind where I’m from all over again.

- Shaya