Oh, this is beautiful, Jessy. And I loved the recorded version, the subtle shifts in the way you shaped the tone of each word. It feels like it belongs with music. Also, I went back and read "I Want You To Be Happy Here" after finishing this piece, and it made me cry all over again!
I want to come back to your prompt and do it properly (because I did NOT do it properly), but this what came for me:
not home as in home but
as in the space between your gaze and my face
as in the swiftness with which your tiny feet close linoleum distance
as in both arms (inked in cow tattoos) around my neck
as in your hands already tugging at my shirt
as in "mama, maaama" and your laughing impatience
as in settling into the flower-bloom kitchen couch to nurse you
ommmgg this is so beautiful. "daring to feel, after all is said and done, that I might at last be home" - oof. this ending line got me. Thank you so much for sharing, love. Sorry I'm commenting so late. Somehow I missed this back in September.
as in a blue dress up box, small feet tucked in mom’s old high heels
as in the spider named charlotte outside our bedroom window, the only one I wasn’t afraid of
as in you telling me stories in the back to the car to help me sleep through the thunderstorm
as in speculaas cookies and the smell of apple cider at Christmas
as in putting the angel on the tree last
as in the pellet stove, baking in a room up to 80 degrees
as in backstage, tech week, opera arias in a language we didn’t understand
as in going back and forth between the houses, bickering after banding together
as in escaping through books, creating our own worlds
a blanket fort we living in for three days
as in Harry Potter cassette tapes and the drive to California
-----------------
I’m so struck by what my mind came up with here. It made me realize that so much of my childhood memory of home is tied to my older sister. I’m going to continue working on this piece and see what else comes up.
Ahhh I love when writing shows you something you didn't know. It's such a profound experience. Thank you for sharing this with me. I'm sorry I'm responding so late. I somehow missed this back in September! Have you worked on this piece since then?
Oh no need to apologize! I've worked on it a little bit and am really enjoying tracking how 'home' has evolved for me. I'm thinking of breaking it into a few sections, one for each of the different periods of my life?
Oh, this is beautiful, Jessy. And I loved the recorded version, the subtle shifts in the way you shaped the tone of each word. It feels like it belongs with music. Also, I went back and read "I Want You To Be Happy Here" after finishing this piece, and it made me cry all over again!
I want to come back to your prompt and do it properly (because I did NOT do it properly), but this what came for me:
not home as in home but
as in the space between your gaze and my face
as in the swiftness with which your tiny feet close linoleum distance
as in both arms (inked in cow tattoos) around my neck
as in your hands already tugging at my shirt
as in "mama, maaama" and your laughing impatience
as in settling into the flower-bloom kitchen couch to nurse you
as in our afternoon ritual for two alone
as in you, poised between baby- and boyhood,
daring me to feel, after all is said and done,
that I might at last be
home
ommmgg this is so beautiful. "daring to feel, after all is said and done, that I might at last be home" - oof. this ending line got me. Thank you so much for sharing, love. Sorry I'm commenting so late. Somehow I missed this back in September.
not home as in home but
as in safe enough
as in loved enough
as in fed enough
as in soft voices / no voices
as in the murmur of a kettle
as in ordinary
as in braided hair
as in safe
Wow I love this so much. As in braided hair. 😭 I don’t know why but that makes me emotional. So beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you! I'm so glad you shared the prompt, it was a gift 💜
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
not home as in home but,
as in a blue dress up box, small feet tucked in mom’s old high heels
as in the spider named charlotte outside our bedroom window, the only one I wasn’t afraid of
as in you telling me stories in the back to the car to help me sleep through the thunderstorm
as in speculaas cookies and the smell of apple cider at Christmas
as in putting the angel on the tree last
as in the pellet stove, baking in a room up to 80 degrees
as in backstage, tech week, opera arias in a language we didn’t understand
as in going back and forth between the houses, bickering after banding together
as in escaping through books, creating our own worlds
a blanket fort we living in for three days
as in Harry Potter cassette tapes and the drive to California
-----------------
I’m so struck by what my mind came up with here. It made me realize that so much of my childhood memory of home is tied to my older sister. I’m going to continue working on this piece and see what else comes up.
Ahhh I love when writing shows you something you didn't know. It's such a profound experience. Thank you for sharing this with me. I'm sorry I'm responding so late. I somehow missed this back in September! Have you worked on this piece since then?
Oh no need to apologize! I've worked on it a little bit and am really enjoying tracking how 'home' has evolved for me. I'm thinking of breaking it into a few sections, one for each of the different periods of my life?