Finding Home

I walk the short boulevard

Empty

Quiet

Seemingly abandoned

Really, everyone is at school and work

I speak with an old neighbour

Your mother walked here,

He tells me

She’d the same look on ‘er face

Searching for something, y’know

I do know

I don’t nod, though

I thank him for the tea,

Go on my way

I wonder if she found it

I didn’t

This old, quiet road

Doesn’t seem like home

Not anymore

Instead, I taste remnants of a memory

I can’t quite recall having in the first place

She’d the same look on ‘er face

My mother never felt like home, either

Not that I remember, anyway

Familiar isn’t the same as safe, is it?

I didn’t know that until I knew - later

Loud

Full

Melting in the eyes of lovers

People return to me, often,

Looking for something of themselves,

The same look on their face, y’know,

And I really do know,

But I don’t smile

I thank them for the sex,

Go on my way

I wonder if they find it

I find

Small pieces of myself in everyone I meet

Some are familiar

Some of them are safe, aren’t they?

I never quite know until I know – after

Quiet

Alone

Wading through my own self-portraits

I walk to your house

You’re quiet

Waiting

My mother walked here

Looking for pieces of herself

You’re familiar, and you’re safe

You feel like home

I wonder if we’ll find it