Where Are You From?

I've been asked, far more than once,

"Who are you?

Where are you from?

Where did you learn to speak English so well?"

I have been asked these questions

Everywhere I've lived,

Except in the Land of Enchantment.

Well, of course,

I should have known.

It is so obvious that

Since I am from the Land of Enchantment

I might not look like,

Sound like,

Or even smell like

Those who aren't from there.

When I was 7, my new teacher, Mrs. Jones,

Asked me where I was from.

And then she told my classmates that I was

The most handsome boy she'd ever seen.

Wow. I guess she'd never been
To the Land of Enchantment.

We moved to California when I was eight.
My accent was strong, and my skin was dark
But my back was NOT wet,
Even if bigger kids told me it was.

The new Japanese wife, who moved in next door
Told my mom she was happy

To live next to another Japanese family.

When I came aboard my new ship

In Newport, Rhode Island, my shipmates asked,

"Where are you from?"

When I told people that I was from Albuquerque

They asked me if I joined the Navy

To get American citizenship. 

As I sailed around the world,

People in other countries would ask,

"How did you get onto an American ship?"

When I was in Beijing, a local asked,

"What part of China are you originally from?"
 When I flew into Moscow, people asked,
"Are you from Kamchatka?"

When I was at a garden party

For African American architects,

They thought I was an African American architect.

When I was in South Africa the native workers

Waved and yelled out,

"Hey, Rastafarian!"

I have had people ask me if I was German,

Or Italian, Puerto Rican, or Greek.

People have thought that I was Native American.

And that is partially true.

It seems as if so few people

Have been to the Land of Enchantment.

If they had been, they would know why

I seem to have a face

That can sometimes fit in

Almost everywhere, almost.