I dream of a house-
Glowing with golden light
The kitchen window sill,
Lined with spices- cardamom, thyme, dill.
Little creatures lurking and purring,
Panting and babbling,
Crawling on four limbs & teetering with two.
Music and textures, of sounds and fabrics,
Layers and textiles and instruments.
A body to sleep next to,
And cartoons to watch in the morning.
Warm baths, and surprise flowers,
Little sticky hands and undistinguishable paintings.
Birthday parties and first days of school.
Balancing budgets, grocery lists, and anniversaries.
Piano lessons and soccer practice.
Snotty noses and tomato soup.
The morning rush, exhausted dinner, quiet night.

You say you're bad,
And I forget to say something
More than just disagreeing-
Forget to say the opposite,
That you're wonderful,
That I like being near you.
You make light of your talent,
Make sarcastic remarks,
Cynical gestures, and bizarre noises.
And I see it as a dance.
Your hands gracefully move through the air
And I'm transfixed.
As if you're a snake charmer
Playing your tune.
I follow you mindlessly,
As I slither in every direction.
Who's seducing who?

My roots are raw & exposed.
I was yanked out of the ground
And set aside, forgotten to be crafted.
I knew a home once,
A lush wood with foliage
And forest sounds, dewy & humming.
I am now in solitude & drying out.
The life of my ecosystem-exiled.
What to do now,
But to find a pot of soil and call it "earth."
Find a small, modest room with generous light.
Let creatures lurk around corners
And fill the air with spices & music.
I once stood still in a forest.
Now, I stand independent
Growing & collecting light.