sunlight—
the heat of the day
air heavy with the breath of summer
water coalescing like spit in a mouth
everywhere
the heat touches
its all-encompassing embrace
fills the emptiness

surrounded like this
i can believe that i belong
that this is home
it is the only one i’ve ever known after all
to leave it is to leave
a heavy, heated familiarity
the taste of perpetual sunlight
the painting of thunder’s dance
and lightning’s howl
the shine of winter and shadow of summer
the voices that weave around my ears like a halo
as they whisper my name
Intimacy

a silent heartbeat
—a home