Home Sweet Home br Is stuck crooked to her suitcase br And worn into the soles of her shoes. br Her timepiece is always correct br Somewhere. br Her freckles have names like Venice and Chang Mai br Each with its own story to tell, br Her camera now more an extension of herself, br A third eye with mega pixel vision and better memory. br br Her shoulders have felt the weight of the world br Lifting children who smile through hunger br As they beg for candy in the street br And giggle at redheads on the bus. br br Her home is quiet proof br That the world can indeed coexist peacefully br Together in the china cabinet. br br Growing restless in familiarity, br An atlas rests on her nightstand br To inspire dreams of another language br Any other language. br She is not running away br But running toward. br br When she returns from each adventure br Her magic bag unfurls, br Exploding with culture hardly contained by nylon walls, br Like Felix the Cat br Or giddy Santa out of season. br Each toy and trinket a proud piece of that place br And gentle salute to those hands br That not only need to create, br But want to. br br And as the little ones explore these toys from space, br They too will hear a voice that says, “come” br And someday surrender to the wanderlust br That has ripened her smile and her soul.