When I think of home, I see my mom
with her long, blackish-red hair in a bun.

When I think of home, I hear glass breaking sometimes.

When I think of home, I smell my cats, Rambo and Rex,
and their litterbox.

When I think of home, I taste Hot Takis.

When I think of home, I touch my collectibles
like Kyla, Chucky, Jason, Michael Myers, and Freddy.

When I think of home, I feel safe
because my mom doesn’t buy creepy dolls.

When I think of home, I feel video game-us.

This poem is published in The World in Me, a compilation of original poetry written by young people ages 8 – 17 who stayed with their families in housing at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing for women and children. The young authors who contributed to The World in Me are not identified by their real names, and some details have been changed to protect the privacy and confidentiality of them and their families. The authors retain copyrights on their individual works.