I am froma place not of leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold,but instead a teenaged sky, moodywith deluges of rain,moments lateropening to periwinkle heavensand effervescent light,scurrying clouds away.I am fromsalty, rocky beaches, gray water too cold to swim in(even though we do every New Year’s Day).

I am fromcobalt suil amhain,frecklesand loud, accented, argumentativevoices.Stories from my Nana ofcherry buns at Bewley’s Cafeon Grafton Street, andsugary milky tea.Boiled cabbage and meaty bacon.

I am Here

I am frominfinite kingsnamed Richard and Henry.From staying up latereading Harry Potter.Hard, still-warm pencils and the flap, flap of long volumes.

From the Beatles,Freddie Mercury,The Rolling Stones.I am frommountains ofhard books and hard rockand deep-fried haddockwith chips, malt vinegar, and minty mushy peas.

I am from these two different islandsdisputing the same landfor centuries.Easter Rising, Bloody Sunday,the Troubles.The queen and the taoiseach.Dublin and London.

But I am not therebut here.

I am Here

Eating tacos with cotija at my house,ice pops on the deck, year round.A banana tree in my backyard.Palm trees on my horizon.Only two seasons(summer and inferno)boiling heat in August,warm breezes in the winter,boba and nigiri just a block away,golden stars adorningthe grimy concrete.Everyone wants to be a star.Everyone is from somewhere else.I am here, I am there,I am fromdozens of family members,my friends for life.They are here,they are therelike a pod of dolphins,like silvery-white iridium scattering the solar system.