There is No Place like Home

When you are in elementary
Your house is the coolest
Place in the world
In middle school it is
The place you long to be
When you don't feel like
Going to school
In high school it is the
Place you go to Watch
Movies while eating
Chinese Food with your friends.
It is where you go before
You head off to prom with your
Prom date Allen who came
Ten minutes early to pick you up
In college home is a place you go
To when you miss your family
It is a haven, a safe place to be
When your heart has been shattered,
When you decided that you are not so
Sure that you want to major in Biology
And need to clear your thoughts;
Get a fresh perspective
A home is either where you bond
Or where you separate
My home is a three story yellow house
11o19 Maiden Drive 20720
In the front of my house
Lies a bright yellow mailbox
Always looking like it got a fresh
Coat of paint with flowers underneath
I pull out an old key of mine to the house
And step inside carefully as to not let
Mojo my old house hold dog run out
My home is a place where I have made
Many of my fondest memories
I remember my first bike ride,
My very first crush Nicholas,
The day I learned how to read
My very first day of school;
My first birthday pool party
As I walk through the hallway
Greeting the many friends, and relatives
My mother would have always invited over,
I smell the familiar aroma of a fresh baked apple crisp
My children Dara, and Nathan scamper off to play with their cousins
I remember those days too. Playing "House"
With my cousins in the basement
I see my sisters and their husbands and greet each one tenderly
Feeling an ache for my husband who was unable to attend
This would be the third Christmas without Brandon,
Who is always going on business trips to Japan and Italy
Too many fights sent him packing for a long while
And the kids questioning me about
When their daddy will be coming home
I hold up my wine glass as we prepare a toast
To the cook, to the family, and to friends
Afterwards I go up the steps to retrieve
The gifts I had brought for my sisters, nieces, and nephews
My Room is bright yellow, Yellow always reminded me of Heaven
And my favorite fruit the Banana that I cherish
I imagine the bunk bed and dressers that used to be there in place of
The new furniture that constituted as a guest bedroom
Me and my sister Brittney sneaking marshmallows at night
And telling each other ghost stories that sent us both
Running to the safety of our parents room
Those were the Golden days
I peer through the window and see
My children playing in the snow
With my sister Tessa's kids
And making snow angels
Oh the innocent days of childhood!
I hope that my house will always be a place
That my children long to go to
A place stuffed with so many memories
That they just cannot stay away
I go back downstairs and place my gifts
Neatly under the glowing musical tree
The door bell rings. I feel the cold air
Seeping inside as another family is greeted
A s I step into the family room to toast
My chilly body by the crackling fire
A cup of steaming hot cocoa with marshmallows
Is placed in my small stiff hands
Home is a place you can go to and be yourself.
A place full of warmth and love for anyone
And everyone no matter what your past.
I hear my sister Joanna telling her boys to
Put down the candles in an urgent tone
I start to chuckle thinking of how we
Were once the same way, young and mischievous
The door bell rings, and seeking to be of help
I earnestly open the door
My parents were always inviting strangers
And homeless people into their house
When I asked why they did their reply was
"If God did not turn away us, we will turn away no one"
I open the door surprised to find a familiar face
Amber eyes and smooth ebony skin
Handsome features with a scar on his ear,
A scar I have kissed thousands of times
I look at him and shock and he smiles back at me,
With that puppy dog grin, that I am so familiar with
A voice calls out "Brandon" and I recognize it as my own
His voice becomes low and husky as he
Says my name softly as if it were a rose petal "Scarlett"
We gaze at each other in awe of one another's existence
And already having forgiven one another in that moment
The snowflakes cling to our faces as I fall into his arms
We kiss under the mistletoe passionately
Home is where I found love