Prior to 18 years,
I didn't know what home meant
until I shuddered at the thought of leaving my family
and dependency became a luxury.

Prior to poetry,
I didn't know what exhale meant
until I inhaled the negative to ink my pen
and felt my chest sink in to create a healthy mechanism on paper.

Prior to love,
I didn't know what unconditional meant
until a wholesome you became visible
and yet, still fully wonderful.

Prior to death,
I didn't know what getting taken care of meant
until you were taken by disease
and taken away from the soil.