The Garden

homeland (+)

they told me it was home

land of quiet calm

but there was rain, rain in summer

suffocating hazy warmth of long-gone memories

and tears of forgotten ancestors

dripping into my eyes

words bounced in my head and

i tried to make sense

of them all but i didn't know how

so i nodded, yes yes yes

yes

no

i'm sorry i don't understand

it's been so long

not native

not home

i wanted it to be home

because even back there i was not

one of "us"

not free not brave–

dash american

minus american

negative american

just the forceful patter of rain

in a sunless sky

and a tongue that couldn't

mold the words that broiled in my throat

they told me it was home

but i'm still looking for mine.