Forever Bound

In a sea of people I sit and observe,

Everyone going about their day

I sat and wondered,

There are so many people

Why do I feel so alone

I sought and thought

Longed only for the embrace of my mother

Oh how I wanted nothing to have her hug me once again

A year ago, I wanted nothing more to leave

Now I want nothing more to come back

My heart is anchored there

In the warm embrace of my mother

She is my home, she is my support

One hug from her and all my problems vanish

She has loved me for who I am,

She has made me into who I am

One call from her and all my problems vanish

If this is not home,

Then what is

My soul is next to her

Whom I share my smile with

She is who I prayed for

When I turned nine

People say we look like twins ,

Only she is nine years younger than me

She is my little sister

My bag of trouble and joy

If this is not home,

Then what is

My mind is still waiting

For him to continue sharing his wisdom

Unfathomable is the love he holds for me

And he is the one I want to be proud of me

My life coach and my teacher, my father

We are way too alike,

My father and I

No wonder we argue so much

And he ends up winning

My dad, my papa, my Pops

Whose shoulders have aged in carrying the responsibility of our family

His smile puts me in ease

Reminding me that no matter what storm comes our way,

We will stand strong together

If this is not home,

Then what is

I think of them everyday

Imagining them going through with their day

When the pandemic ravaged my home country,

I prayed for their safety

The thought of losing them

Was the worst pain I could imagine

Oh! How I miss them

Scrolling through my google photos

And video calling everyday while eating

Have become clingy and needy

Each festival serves a reminder that I am not with them

Have passed my days sulking and waiting

Waiting for the day to fly through the clouds

And Run into my mother’s arms

If they are not home,

Then what is

I’m surprised at myself

Didn’t think I would miss them so much

Didn’t think I would become this needy for family

Often ashamed to even admit, I miss them everyday

Wonder what it would be like to be with them again

If they are not home,

Then what is

As strangers go about their day around me

I can’t help but wonder what home really means

What is it ?

After travelling the world for too long,

I have realized that

Home itself is an emotion

Not a location defined by longitudes and latitudes

Neither by past

It is the company of those people

Who are worth living for,

For whom you long for,

Whose embrace is enough to calm you

To whom you are forever bound

Not by blood,

Just love.