Michelle Medrano

This 4-stanza poem has changed my life in more ways than should be allowed. I am forever under William Carlos Williams's spell because of a few lines he decided to write down. My life started off nothing short of unlucky; I was born into poverty, with my father soon leaving me and my mother. My mother was a harlot to say the least, and soon she became ill. There was a hurricane that hit my town, and that was the end of her journey with me. Soon after, I picked up some books, and started reading. The townspeople were impressed with me, and they sent me to live in the Americas. I met several people, including the very first president! I had many friends who shared similar interests and had as almost as much intelligence as I had. Today, I am what is known as a "founding father" and even have a musical in my honor (thanks Lin Manuel Miranda!). Still, I could never have pushed and created the legacy I have today if not for the fate of time pushing the meeting of me and this poem together. Thank you William Carlos Williams for being my personal red wheelbarrow.