WHERE ARE YOU GOING FOR CHRISTMAS?, 1998
"Home. I'm staying home."
I’ve been to Cleveland, Atlanta, New Orleans,
Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, San Francisco,
Kansas City, Minneapolis, Washington, DC,
New York City, Iowa City, the Netherlands,
Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza
Monroe, Little Rock, Battle Creek, Boston,
Midland, Tampa, Orlando, Aruba,
Dehli, Karachi, Islamabad, Skardu, Cairo, Athens, Dhaka,
the U.P. of Michigan and soon I’ll go to L.A.,
Vienna, Paris, Tucson, Denver, Helsinki, and Tacoma
I've climbed into middle seats on planes,
the only white woman in a cabin of tribal turbans,
delayed on runways with ice on the wings ,
carried luggage across wet streets in rainstorms,
purse falling off my shoulder. coat dragging,
I've lugged handouts and slide carousels,
attended speeches on variance and curriculum,
signed books and smiled and smiled,
talked in hotel lounges with strangers
exchanging business cards and thoughts,
watched television propped up on pillows,
reading paperbacks and sipping wine,
seen dawn on the Sierra Nevada on Easter
in a mustard field with dew dripping in my tent,
climbed a rainforest trail in Domenica,
walked many malls—mall America looks the same—
stores, strips, rented cars, strangers’ bars
museums, ferries, fast food, and conference rooms.
Visited friends while I'm in town,
been a good guest, sent bread and butter notes.
made my bed, been guided, toured, wined and dined;
now, unpacking once again
in this delicious empty house--
my books, my bed, my furniture, my computer--
my black cat whines, "You're finally home!"
And home I'll stay.
© Jane Piirto. All Rights Reserved.