HOME | DD

Description
      Christian Morgenstern once stated, "Home is not where you live but where they understand you." This German poet captured the essence of my home.  I do not live in my home; but my heart certainly does, its beat echoing across the miles which separate my closest friend from me. I find great comfort in this stable rhythm for I know, no matter the distance, my friend will always understand me.

The last time I saw him, leaves rained lightly; now they coat the ground with their fallen grace, leaving the trees naked and shivering.  Even so, time's touch has not faded my memory of the mischievous curl of his smile.  His face looks back at me from the etching which forever stays in my thoughts--from the shower of burnt-orange freckles across his nose to the clarity of his summer-storm eyes, their flashes of lightning darting from one interest to another.  Sometimes in my dreams, I travel the distance between us and feel his soft arms around me.  Still, the most vivid creations of my imagination cannot compare to the reality of his touch.  When he pulls me close, I breathe him in--an indescribable sweetness that leaves my head spinning, my heart rushing, my lungs searching for the proper supply of oxygen.  His warmth radiates through me, reaching the very depths of my soul; and a sense of security washes over me.  He is my stronghold, my refuge, my custom mold--the perfect fit. Despite the horrid span of land which has audacity enough to separate us, his perpetual presence holds me.  I hear the sweet gravel of his voice singing along to the music which sounds throughout my life; he rests in the breeze of the night as it crawls through my window, wrapping me in a tight embrace and rocking me to sleep.

When the lack of his physical presence pushes salty tears down my flushed face, I find my only comfort in the elegant machinery of his mind. Constant reminders of our time together shatter frozen memories, and I feel him again.  When a lily graces the air with her sickeningly sweet perfume, I think of the bright pinks and calm lavender which laid at my door one balmy afternoon. When the chilling air of early autumn caresses my cheek, I remember his coat whipping in the wind--his laugh bursting out as I chased ducks at the lake. When I pass the hill with its rugged tree holding its arms out to the sky, I remember the chilled earth beneath me and the sparkling sprinkles of the sky winking down at us as we wondered about the future. When I stumble upon something of wonder--a huge harvest moon, a daisy lying in the snow, a moment in which I laughed at myself--I long to share its beauty with him; yet, he lingers just out of my reach.  Even as time drags us away in her rotten clutches, the distance growing with every tick of the clock, I find ease in his unique voice--his thoughts, his creations, the imperfect art of him.  The reflection of his heart rests in the forever flowing melody of the music he emits, the poetry he whispers in the dark, the view of the world which shines in his eyes.  I clasp this striking outlook tightly around my heart. His originality surpasses even the most abstract art forms, creating a whole new universe which I long to explore.  His compassion has sheltered me as I shattered the walls I mortared in place. His encouragement pushed me to find myself in the rubble, holding my hand as I tiptoed onto unfamiliar terrain. His proud eyes watched as I opened myself to a shimmering brand-new world.

In this sparkling new land of opportunities, innumerable experiences await me, some quiet and patient while others tug at my skirt and call me towards them.  Possibilities for schools, careers, families, and lives circle my mind; the choices spin until I am wobbly and unsure. Yet, among this dizzy unknown rests the familiarity of my home. I am cared for, I am secure, I am completely understood. The rare and indispensable feeling of belonging settles in my core, and I feel as if this world has always been waiting for me to stumble upon it.  I continue my journey through this breathlessly beautiful life with my home always residing in my mind, in my heart--in the warmest depths of my person, even as I make wrong turn after wrong turn in my search for the path which is my own.  No matter how lost in this world I become, I find my home enduring in him.

Description
      Christian Morgenstern once stated, "Home is not where you live but where they understand you." This German poet captured the essence of my home.  I do not live in my home; but my heart certainly does, its beat echoing across the miles which separate my closest friend from me. I find great comfort in this stable rhythm for I know, no matter the distance, my friend will always understand me.

The last time I saw him, leaves rained lightly; now they coat the ground with their fallen grace, leaving the trees naked and shivering.  Even so, time's touch has not faded my memory of the mischievous curl of his smile.  His face looks back at me from the etching which forever stays in my thoughts--from the shower of burnt-orange freckles across his nose to the clarity of his summer-storm eyes, their flashes of lightning darting from one interest to another.  Sometimes in my dreams, I travel the distance between us and feel his soft arms around me.  Still, the most vivid creations of my imagination cannot compare to the reality of his touch.  When he pulls me close, I breathe him in--an indescribable sweetness that leaves my head spinning, my heart rushing, my lungs searching for the proper supply of oxygen.  His warmth radiates through me, reaching the very depths of my soul; and a sense of security washes over me.  He is my stronghold, my refuge, my custom mold--the perfect fit. Despite the horrid span of land which has audacity enough to separate us, his perpetual presence holds me.  I hear the sweet gravel of his voice singing along to the music which sounds throughout my life; he rests in the breeze of the night as it crawls through my window, wrapping me in a tight embrace and rocking me to sleep.

When the lack of his physical presence pushes salty tears down my flushed face, I find my only comfort in the elegant machinery of his mind. Constant reminders of our time together shatter frozen memories, and I feel him again.  When a lily graces the air with her sickeningly sweet perfume, I think of the bright pinks and calm lavender which laid at my door one balmy afternoon. When the chilling air of early autumn caresses my cheek, I remember his coat whipping in the wind--his laugh bursting out as I chased ducks at the lake. When I pass the hill with its rugged tree holding its arms out to the sky, I remember the chilled earth beneath me and the sparkling sprinkles of the sky winking down at us as we wondered about the future. When I stumble upon something of wonder--a huge harvest moon, a daisy lying in the snow, a moment in which I laughed at myself--I long to share its beauty with him; yet, he lingers just out of my reach.  Even as time drags us away in her rotten clutches, the distance growing with every tick of the clock, I find ease in his unique voice--his thoughts, his creations, the imperfect art of him.  The reflection of his heart rests in the forever flowing melody of the music he emits, the poetry he whispers in the dark, the view of the world which shines in his eyes.  I clasp this striking outlook tightly around my heart. His originality surpasses even the most abstract art forms, creating a whole new universe which I long to explore.  His compassion has sheltered me as I shattered the walls I mortared in place. His encouragement pushed me to find myself in the rubble, holding my hand as I tiptoed onto unfamiliar terrain. His proud eyes watched as I opened myself to a shimmering brand-new world.

In this sparkling new land of opportunities, innumerable experiences await me, some quiet and patient while others tug at my skirt and call me towards them.  Possibilities for schools, careers, families, and lives circle my mind; the choices spin until I am wobbly and unsure. Yet, among this dizzy unknown rests the familiarity of my home. I am cared for, I am secure, I am completely understood. The rare and indispensable feeling of belonging settles in my core, and I feel as if this world has always been waiting for me to stumble upon it.  I continue my journey through this breathlessly beautiful life with my home always residing in my mind, in my heart--in the warmest depths of my person, even as I make wrong turn after wrong turn in my search for the path which is my own.  No matter how lost in this world I become, I find my home enduring in him.