November/December 2023

After school, you go Home. You feel safe when you are Home. After a long day, you go Home. When you’re tired, you want to go Home. When you are on the road, you want to go Home. When you’re at school, you want to go Home. When you are crying, you want to go Home. When you are hurting, you want to go Home. You are at peace when you are Home.

I am from the teddy bear that is gigantic From old dishes from Greece I am from the calm wind that blows by my house And the swing that went away in the waves of our pool I am from the huge pine tree in the backyard that litters the ground I am from the old luggage bag that came from Greece From Alex and Penny, Uncle Matthew and Auntie Denise And from traveling and books, from the spanakopita at Thanksgiving I am from Uncle George saying a prayer at family gatherings From apple pie that makes the house smell like apples From traveling to America from Greece, and From the fallen leaves on the family, and the family tree that came from Greece, the family tree that came from my grandparents’ house I am from moments at my Uncle Jimmy’s house I am from the family tree that is 567 years old I am from Greece.