Mrs.+Teall's+Example+Poem

GROWING PAINS by Mrs. Teall

Before I even step off the plane, The air that greets me is different: Wet, Thick, Gray. Smelling of faraway. Smelling of… What? Later I’ll know it’s different because It doesn’t smell of grass.

Walking through a crowd Of glossy black hair and navy blue suits, I glowed: Blond. Suddenly tall, With arms and legs bare. Drawing stares. Children shouting “Gaijin!” //Foreigner.//

Alleyways smelling of fish and salt. Grocery aisles without peanut butter. And in its place, Octopus tentacles Snack bags of dried minnows Cans and cans with labels in a foreign language. But the labels aren’t foreign; I am.

Sweating in the humid darkness On a soft mat on the floor Instead of a bed, Listening. A mosquito, The beeping of the crosswalk below: Continuous. Missing My dog My mom My world. Waiting to change, To grow into someone comfortable being different.

LUCY by Mrs. Teall
Yapping bundle of energy Racing to greet me at the door.

I trip Over her windshield wiper tail And wiggling body, Jumping Licking Wagging.

She seems to smile a clown-like grin. Then she races in circles, Crazy. Welcome home, she tells me.

Welcome home.