By Shreena Patel, Age 11
North Carolina
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Where I am from
I am from backyard bunnies
from where the Biltmore stands to the fields of fruits
I am from the trees of dogwood where cardinals rest
I am from Suresh, Manju, Raman and Sharda
and the Patels from cracking fireworks
I am from the family of sarcasm and staying up late
From drawing on every paper in the house and
told not to jump on the couch
I am from eating ice cream every night
From the time I threw my food to the time
my brother was born
I am from getting caught peeking at albums
back when the pictures were black and white
Now in a tattered family album
The Brave Lily
The lily on my deck
Planted in rich soil
In its bright pink pot
Looking around
In the stem there are loops
And the petals shaped like hoops
Though I wonder isn’t it scared of thunder
Like I am
Here under my blanket
Only my eyes you can see peering out at the lily
I stare at it thinking is it looking at me
But I still have a blank page in me
Abut how brave can the little flower be
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The Brave Lily was written when Shreena was age 8.
