Home
Natalie Heinitz, 131 YinDHome is the Nationals’ radio broadcast while I make breakfast andHome is Kacey’s “Slow Burn” while I stretch away the stress andHome is reading for hours on end andHome is mindlessly singing John’s “I’m So Tired” while I wash the dishes andHome is doodling the webs in my mind.Home is hearing the guitar intro to Neil’s “Needle and the Damage Done” and realizing that was what my dad was playing after all these years and starting to cry andHome is needing to hug my mom andHome is still grieving the dog I couldn’t say bye to andHome is Springer’s ice cream and summer chlorine and my grandpa’s wool sweaters and knowing I can’t have them butHome is welcoming the thunder of midnight trucks, when I used to cower andHome is always leaving my front door wide open andHome is saying, no we live with the bugs andHome is being Nata-LEE with an emphasis on the LEE andHome is craving rice for breakfast.Homes are given and homes are taken butI guess I never realized that means they’re more often createdAnd when I think of home, well,It’s the memories, not the placesAnd home will be whatever I need it to beUntil I don’t need to think anymore because actually,I’m home already.
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