I Am From

I wrote this poem a few years ago as part of a work exercise, but it became much more than that. It’s the story of crossing borders into a country I deeply love and proudly call home, while also honoring the place where my journey began.

It feels especially fitting to share it today as we celebrate the Fourth of July, a day that reminds us of the freedoms, opportunities, and hope that have drawn generations of immigrants to this nation. It’s also a personal milestone for my family, as my mom and I arrived in the United States on July 4th.

This poem is my story of gratitude, identity, and home. I hope you enjoy reading it.

I am from a small country in Central America.  

I am from warmth, volcanoes, and beautiful seas.

I am from people who love delicious food, like pupusas, plátano frito, and fresh cheese.  

I am from a community that is friendly, welcoming, and values family.  

I am from a country marked by civil war.

I am from violence and poverty.

I am from an immigrant, undocumented father, and mother 

I am from parents who believed the only way to survive was to flee to the Land of the Free.

I am from a mother who walked the border for hours, willing to risk everything to protect me.

I am from a mother who journeyed toward hope, toward freedom, toward liberty.  

I am from a mother who loved Jesus and trusted that He alone could truly set her free.

I am from a woman who persistently prayed for my spiritual liberty.  

I am from hardworking parents with day labor jobs, low wages, and simple apartment life.  

I am from parents who gave their children the opportunities and education they themselves only dreamed of.

I am from a family who watched me become the first to graduate from college.

I am from a land that opens its doors to “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

I am from a secret place, knitted together and woven by grace.

I am from His image, from The One who looks beyond my immigrant status.  

I am from El Salvador, my Savior, who died so I can have eternal, permanent status.  

Stay tuned to the next word…