"Haven Away From Home"
Kailey Farmer
Lowe's Grove PTA
Durham, NC
Read This Artist's Statement
Haven Away From Home
I pull up in the driveway
Purple ribbon around the mailbox
Bricks and cement could never look better
I walk down the rocky pathway
Suitcase rolling by my side
I go through the rusty gate
It's sounded the same since I can remember
I hear the sound of the screen porch door
Rocking backwards and forwards as I go through
Papa is in his recliner
Nana's just finishing up the dishes
As I wrap my arms around nana
The scent of warm lavender rushes up my nose
Papa gives me a kiss on the cheek
As he hugs me his hands shake
It's hard for him to remember my name
But I hold on tight
Treasuring this moment with papa
Because it may be the last
I go into the back room
I flop onto the pull out couch
Nana's got it ready for me
Drifting away with the soft sound of the fan
Recalling distant memories
Realizing what I take for granted
Christmas trees
Presents
Saying good bye
These memories could only occur here
I hear the wind rippling through the trees
I see them sway side to side
Hearing papa's stories of the past
The wind caresses my hair
I'm a bird as he pushes me higher and higher
I can see the treetops
All my worries drift way
I know papa's there for me
I remember being younger
Running through the swaying sheets
Hanging on the clothes line
Nana hands me a towel to dry off
I smell that special smell
The scent of nature and serenity
I wake up
The smell of papa's chicken
Roaming through the halls
Perfectly Tender
I can taste it in my mouth
Nana's mashed potatoes
Piling the food on my plate
I can't wait for this magically cooked meal to slide down my throat
I take my plate outside
Tea in my boot shaped cup
Ice clinks as it his the sides
Sitting back on a lawn chair
I watch the clouds move in the sky
The tree limbs dancing slowly
The wind chimes are jingling
Birds chirping
Planes taking off at the base down the road
They rattle, shake, and rumble
They remind me of Papa's stories
They remind me of him
They remind me of my haven away from home.
Kailey Farmer
Lowe's Grove PTA
Durham, NC
Read This Artist's Statement
I pull up in the driveway
Purple ribbon around the mailbox
Bricks and cement could never look better
I walk down the rocky pathway
Suitcase rolling by my side
I go through the rusty gate
It's sounded the same since I can remember
I hear the sound of the screen porch door
Rocking backwards and forwards as I go through
Papa is in his recliner
Nana's just finishing up the dishes
As I wrap my arms around nana
The scent of warm lavender rushes up my nose
Papa gives me a kiss on the cheek
As he hugs me his hands shake
It's hard for him to remember my name
But I hold on tight
Treasuring this moment with papa
Because it may be the last
I go into the back room
I flop onto the pull out couch
Nana's got it ready for me
Drifting away with the soft sound of the fan
Recalling distant memories
Realizing what I take for granted
Christmas trees
Presents
Saying good bye
These memories could only occur here
I hear the wind rippling through the trees
I see them sway side to side
Hearing papa's stories of the past
The wind caresses my hair
I'm a bird as he pushes me higher and higher
I can see the treetops
All my worries drift way
I know papa's there for me
I remember being younger
Running through the swaying sheets
Hanging on the clothes line
Nana hands me a towel to dry off
I smell that special smell
The scent of nature and serenity
I wake up
The smell of papa's chicken
Roaming through the halls
Perfectly Tender
I can taste it in my mouth
Nana's mashed potatoes
Piling the food on my plate
I can't wait for this magically cooked meal to slide down my throat
I take my plate outside
Tea in my boot shaped cup
Ice clinks as it his the sides
Sitting back on a lawn chair
I watch the clouds move in the sky
The tree limbs dancing slowly
The wind chimes are jingling
Birds chirping
Planes taking off at the base down the road
They rattle, shake, and rumble
They remind me of Papa's stories
They remind me of him
They remind me of my haven away from home.
