A place called home

by Frankie Ann Smythe

We spent all our lives learning to go, go, go
Away from a place called home.
We came and we went, we rode and we drove,
And we slept at a place called home.

When the people made roads—bigger and taller—
We felt oh-so-proud as we filled up those roads;
And we drove in style—higher, faster, farther
Away from a place called home.

The phones became smart; the phones became friends.
We held our phones close, but didn’t talk anymore.
The phones taught us well—how to scroll, scroll, scroll;
Were there people at a place called home?

Too busy to cook, we drove to a line
Away from a place called home.
We brought home the bags and passed out the food
When we drove to a place called home.

We sat in a room and we stared at our phones,
Following people we never would know;
Faces looking down, we bent our eyes low
When we came to a place called home.

We taught all our children how to go, go, go
Away from a place called home.
The sports and the groups and the things they should know
Kept them far from a place called home.

And then came the virus—the one on the news;
And the people who knew how to go, go and go
Were told it was time now to stop, stop, stop
And we stopped at a place called home.

We looked all around, not knowing what to do
As we stood at a place called home.
We picked up our laptops; we learned about Zoom
As we wondered at a place called home.

We had all these feelings, and we were afraid
As we listened from a place called home.
We learned how to rest and we learned how to pray
As we sheltered at a place called home.

We picked up our phones and we used them to talk
As we stayed at a place called home;
And through the smart phones, we laughed and we cried
As we talked from a place called home.

We stepped out our doors and we learned how to walk
On the streets near a place called home.
The neighbors walked dogs and they waved and they smiled
As we strolled near a place called home.

We sat on the porch and we heard the birds sing
While we lived at a place called home;
And the children, they learned how to play outside
And we smiled at a place called home.

The food wasn’t fancy, but it sure tasted good
Since we cooked at a place called home.
The eggs and the pancakes and the other things too
Fed us well at a place called home.

We turned off the news and we put down the phones
As we healed at a place called home.
We talked and we listened and we played some games too
And we remembered at a place called home.

And we took our time; we stopped all the rush,
Choosing peace at a place called home.
We took time to think, to reflect, to forgive
As we connected at a place called home.

We ate meals together; we held hands to pray
As we learned at a place called home.
We humbled our hearts and gave thanks for each day
And we loved at a place called home.

4 thoughts on “A place called home”

  1. You’ve beautifully captured the essence of what’s happening at this point on our life lines. Good to stop awhile at that place called home.

    1. Thank you, Susan. You are precious. It really has been good to linger and stay and feel incredibly grateful.

      God bless you and yours….

      Frankie Ann

  2. Ah, such beautiful poignant insight, Frankie Ann. Your words come from that place called home that we all relate to. Thank you!

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