When I think of my home I see my mom taking care of me

When I think of my home I hear my dad snoring

When I think of my home I smell my mom’s sandwiches

When I think of home I taste my mom’s noodles

When I think of home I touch my bed of clouds

When I think of home I feel safe with my mom and in danger with my dad

When I think of home I feel safe with my mom because my dad tells lies
and says bad things about my mom

My mom never lies like that.

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.