It’s good to be transitionally home
What is this Aech Oh Em Ee Full stop Ever changing day by day, an ellipsis from one town to a city to the mouth leading down a country road Change me. Like a flurry of strong weeds Sprouting fast Digging deep Clenching its talons everywhere It clings! Clings! Clings! Soaking up liquid through each and every pore Ellipsis (Breathe). Eff Eh Em Aye Elle Why Ellipsis Why. Eff Eh Em Aye Elle Why Aech Oh Em Ee (suck breath in) Hold. Release. Ellipsis People don’t always come from the same blood, nor the same place Like churches sharing space Like tomatoes and potatoes We are – (breathe in) We are? Awkward/not awkward/beautifully blessed (Release) Ellipsis Looking less Transitioning always Big fat juicy heavy-duty Impact Returning to find Things have moved on and no things look the same Uh oh, maybe I’ve changed. Can I help? “Your mind will be broadened” But this is my home Now I’m a visitor Now I can’t imagine Can’t imagine how it would be like if I hadn’t left. Aech Oh Em Ee Oh You See Aech Oh, you see Aech? Ohyouseeaech!! But oh so good to be To be. To be transitionally home. Ohyouseeech No longer part of the fabric A pair of red glasses peering into the fishbowl Nose pressed and warming up the glass (Breathe) Ellipsis Eff Eh Em Aye Elle Why Why grow? Potato envy. Deep, dark snuggled in safety. But (Ellipsis) So much beauty out there. The sunshine lulling me to sleep in its sparkle Softly soothing the surface of my skin. Again. So much beauty out there. The sunshine lulling me to sleep in its sparkle Softly soothing the surface of my skin. Beauty is extravagant Beauty is risk How can I not Follow How can I resist expanding my mind? Ellipsis Oh You See Aech A place of belonging, constant goodbyes, hello(s)! Breathe. It’s good to be transitionally Aech Oh Em Ee with Eff Eh Em Aye Elle Why. Home. Family. Transitionally. On the phone, on the bus, on the train, online. Kilometres apart In person. Finally. (Exhale) Full stop.
Grace Lane-Smith is a Nova Scotia poet and visual artist. Her work can be seen at www.gracelanesmithart.com. This is the third of the poems we selected after our call for poems and illustrators earlier this year.
With a special thanks to our generous donors who make publication of the Nova Scotia Advocate possible.
Subscribe to the Nova Scotia Advocate weekly digest and never miss an article again. It’s free!
