a letter to home

to you,

dear home,

I have layered within you

years and years

of soil filled seeds

sunflowers stretching

into the sky.

I have sung my sorrow

into your spacious breadth.

Your tall tall ceilings

into which my voice could fly.

I have whispered all my dreams to you

and you in turn, wove my dreams into quilts.

Laid me down.

Watched me rest.

I have cried into you---through you---

filled you with my salty tears

and you drank my grief up,

held me

as I am.

It was you that listened.

always.

You, dear home, are so beautiful and spacious,

I was able to bring the outside--in.

My shelter became a safe place

for others to seek comfort in.

Friends, guests, travelers, neighbors

ate your garden fruit,

slept on your sunken couch,

made giddy by your sunflowers,

drank tea on your sun-stained porch.

I came to you scared.

-the most alone-.

afraid to eat

afraid to play music

afraid to sing

afraid to share

afraid to love

And in your living room you gave the most precious gift of all----

a monthly salon

for years and years

you held space for us to share,

listen, dance, sing….speak.

I learned to play from my heart

and be supported by a community--

friends that I too would support

by creating space

for them to express.

And the people who have lived within you

long-stayed or short-passed through

have become my family

for life.

dear home,

you have given me too much.

As I travel onward

I will still be filled with you.

love,

Mariel