Time Stood Still

Time Stood Still

I am from overflowing bookshelves

with bursts of color like a Picasso painting,

From towers and mountains of journals and notebooks

filled with random thoughts, ideas, observations.

I am from the neighbour's magnolia tree

with its large leaves knocking together in the wind

like a child banging wooden learning blocks together.

I’m from the single yellow and pink rose

that visits in the midst of the fifth month.

I am from the medieval castle puzzle

teeming with lords, ladies, and knights,

And from the over thirty barbies I owned.

I’m from enormous, sweet, and soft apricots

that ripened during the summer on Grandpa’s farm.

And aggravating mosquito bites

from playing in the park too late.

I’m from, “Remember, Misho, treat everyone the same.”

I’m from the small European country

between Greece and Romania.

I am from bow shaped pasta

eaten with feta cheese and sugar,

And grape-sized squishy blueberries

which I called bimbam.

I’m from Wingardium LeviOsa, not LeviosA,

From sitting on the couch and saying “Accio Remote!”

and hoping it would really fly into your hand

like a bird flying to its nest.

I am from sarcastic friends and understanding family members,

From in between the pages of books,

where I lose and find myself.

I am from those moments after a long and draining day,

lying on the ground alongside my friends

and laughing over the littlest, most ridiculous things,

until it felt like an ab workout.

In those moments - time stood still.