Soon . . . We are near my grandparents' house, small red stone, immense yard surrounding it. Hall Street. A front porch swing thirst for oil. A pot of azaleas blooming. A pine tree. Red dirt wafting up around my mother's newly polished shoes.
Welcome home, my grandparents say. Their warm brown arms around us. A white handkerchief, embroidered with blue to wipe away my mother's tears, And me, the new baby, set deep inside this love.