A Home Within
by Emily Finch
The stars of this world,
those that truly get it:
have a home within.
If you know, you know
and you probably got an imaginary friend.
Or two, or ten.
It takes time to let it sink in and
embrace the home you made within.
It allowed you to love
for love's sake,
and bury your indifference.
You keep running,
they keep running,
we all keep running
from the tree of life —
A tree in the garden of compassion.
Gave it up
for a cold world:
stats, death and data.
Prejudice, empty prayers,
dogma.
Most everyone thinks we’re right—
And we are!
But we’re wrong
when we try to ignore
another’s pain
another’s exile
another’s trial
another’s oppression
another’s faith
another’s resistance
another’s essence
another’s beautiful smile
another’s fears
another’s desires.
How we’re truly made.
It’s not too late
to step back,
to listen.
It’s not too late to recognize
and mourn the suppression we endured
and in good faith, repent
for the wounds we prolong and inflict on others.
It’s time to come together
and create a home within.
A safe home in ourselves
where we can break bread
but we don’t overstep.
Where if we transgress
we can forgive but never forget.
We can learn to respect
ourselves
and one another
even if that means opening a door
or if it means closing one forever.
We can give back
but our hands are not forced—
we can breathe, dance, chant
relax
rest.
We are like stars
shining bright together
each uniquely beautiful
the way we arrive and the way we burn out.
Some quietly,
some violently
but all majestically.
We are together apart and apart together
in a home within.
About Emily Finch
Emily Finch (she/her/hers) is a former member of Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC), and participates in a Portland support group facilitated by A Home Within. She has been writing poetry since she was 9 years old, the age she entered foster care.