Songs of Home - Maius Mollis
My first home was my twin sister
Her arriving screaming
Me 11 minutes later
Quieter and not quite breathing
But eventually soft and warm
Tucked up together and so tiny
Home was Woodhouse Ridge, the stray cats we took in
Tommy and Tamarah
Equally joined at the hip
Home was rice cake snacks and muddy walks
And playing out and pavement chalks
And the older we got the more home shifted
“Home is where the heart is”
Hearts being messy and unpredictable
And easily breakable
Mine beat unevenly for weeks
Dr said it was likely the stress
And they did lots of tests and told me
“everything looked normal”. to get lots of rest
Put it down to the strange few years
From losing so many things, and her and him over and over
And from all the house moves
Packing myself into boxes
For the 9th time since I arrived here 6 years ago
Home is taking off the armour I put on
Soft furnishings, and that plant…
The one I’ve been trying to keep alive for weeks
It’s messy and transient and complex
It’s where I feel my best and worst and most
And where I lie down to rest
And exhale and wait
And look where to plant myself next