The breeze carries sticky caramel sweat
through long summer days with no lunches
I have packed up all of my
old worlds and have brought it for you

tales of youth spoken
through long-dried acrylic color
chemical stories stored for good
on yellowing canvas

move-in day is unearthing
unnerving revisits to past lives in
past homes
we expected her long ago
but she came not until July
she came when she knew we were ready
prepared in the mid-summer heat
to confront pasts—burn old blood
iron wrought purges and starting anew

I have a new home today
ink ribbon smearing ivory cloth
curtains pull open to a new street
I breathe new air

this is welcoming myself home