Love Poem: Home
Ameirah Rivers Avatar
Written by: Ameirah Rivers

Home

Mom, I miss home—  
Not the place I live now,  
But the place I had in the past.  

Sure, you used to hit me,  
But somehow, I think I was happier then.  
Back when I still had a sense of childlike innocence.  
Your blows only stung for a moment.  

Now, the hits have turned to yelling,  
Words that linger long after they’re said.  
If I had to choose, I’d take the cable cord again—  
The crack against my skin,  
At least then, the pain was real,  
Tangible.  

This mental war is different,  
A game I never learned to play.  
The bruises fade,  
But your words carve wounds I can’t heal.  

Mom, I miss home.  
But I wonder—  
Did I ever really have one?