Home Over Time

Home Over Time

by Cleve

Home One, unlocked doors

Aunts, uncles and cousins always about

A place of protected growth

Family trumping all, never a doubt

A garden out back, the dog runs free

Free range siblings all running free

Home Two, married, children, career in place

Atlanta, L. A., Chicago, Boston and D.C.

Different places, different times, different experiences

But netted together a continuous home they be

Our family bonded securely we did roam

Where chance we slept, that was our home

Home Three, finally winnowed down to one

Relocating our homes finally done

Settled long enough for life to take root

And the next generation to start homes of their own

Secure that wherever they locate their home

Home links time and family, and family is never alone

Home Four, I know not this place

Filled with nurses and smells of age

Periods of confusion and disorientation

Only the lack of bars make this not a cage

But also periods of memory, of times now past

Reliving in mind happy homes with family

Then remembering, this home will be my last