I Am Home

I am home

In the lands of sea

I landed almost 18‭ ‬months before

My heart leaped with joy when I saw the waves

The star-shaped shells on the banks lured me‭;‬

I collected them in my hands

while walking on the sand‭ ‬

I witnessed

‭ ‬my footprints washed away by the water‭,‬

along with my longing for home‭.‬

I cherished the cold breeze

‭ ‬And the salty aroma of the sea

For a while‭,‬

‭ ‬I forgot the mountains where I was born

The sea healed the memories of my homeland

I was cheerful and smiling again‭.‬

But‭, ‬I felt lonely

I craved the warm smiles from my home

‭ ‬I longed for my fellow brown-skinned people‭.‬

Still‭, ‬no matter what‭, ‬I smiled at the faces around me

And they smiled back

The same old‭, ‬warm smile

I could feel it

The same humans underneath different skin colours

I could see my people in them and my yearning was cured‭.‬

At last‭, ‬I looked up

The sky had a sign for me‭;‬

A heart-shaped patch of cloud‭, ‬floating

I smiled at it

I laid down on the green grass and closed my eyes

I could feel the warmth of Mother Earth

‭ ‬The tree branches above gave me shade

I was assured that I am home‭.‬

I am home‭. ‬