Origin Story Pt.1: Los Angeles Borderlands

Photo by Camille Ora-Nicole

I grew up in Compton, Gardena, Carson, Torrance, Inglewood, and Northridge.

(I also didn’t grow up in Compton, Gardena, Torrance, Inglewood, or Northridge).

I grew up in West Rancho Dominguez. 

For most of my life, I claimed Compton as my own, unrightfully so -

heritage does gives me an authentic corner thanks to my father,

but I am my mother’s daughter for better or for better.

Compton is an edge I don’t have,

a chip of 7up can in my shoulder,

a shorter label for my address,

an excuse to be wild, to be barefoot,

to be red40 inside and sun-kissed outside.

___

I grew up at the beach. 

(I also didn’t grow up at the beach).

There were years when we went to the beach twice at best

and years where the beach was constant, those years were the best;

my body at rest weighed down in wet jeans and things.

I grew up in Hollywood.

(I also didn’t grow up in Hollywood).

Universal Citywalk is a great place to take broke kids,

Experience glamour for pennies on the dollar.

I grew up in Pomona, Pasadena, West Covina, San Dimas

(I also didn’t grow up in Pomona, Pasadena, West Covina, or San Dimas).

I reached a goal I held from six

and was rewarded with stolen oranges,

orange lights from the top of a water tower,

floats covered in flowers, Arabian horse fields,

white ducks, farm shit and honey sticks.

I grew up in West Hollywood

(I also didn’t grow up in West Hollywood).

One night I went to a rage bad club;

it was the coolest place I’d ever been

and I fell in love with myself for the first time. 

___

I grew up a nomad without a car,

explored culture though it was blasphemy,

fell asleep with my guitar in my arms

and dreamed of living in Los Angeles 

for the rest of my life. 

I grew up knowing everywhere and everything

and knowing nothing about anywhere or anything.

I became partial to a mood, not a memory;

to the intangible, not the tangible.

When you live on the borders

in the ephemeral, there is no comfort in place. 

There is only comfort in being. 

__

lately…i’ve been in love with the sea -