A prompt that couldn’t be more timely
as I stay in god’s own country
streets lively as can be
oh of course, it’s the capital city!
For me though, it’s so much more
it’s my summer vacation
my only connection to the city
This is where I grew up.
From finishing my handwriting homework
to researching college’s coursework
from enrolling in drawing classes
to enrolling in driving classes,
This is where I grew up.
Every vacation,
the zoo, the beach, the museum
the temples, the malls and family friends
oh there are lists of places to visit
Different kinds of Trees everywhere
coconut trees, Banana trees,
trees that are particularly pretty
and the language, well that’s just the best
A city with so much more to it
a city whose language is just as pretty
a city I’ve lived very little in
yet, one that feels so much more like home
But as I grew, those around me grew too
as my grandparents turn old
as the walls lose their strength
my family decides it’s time to let go of the house
I must tell you before I depart
that this city with its pretty trees,
the people, their language and their culture,
continue to win the hearts of every single visitor.
Love the detail in this poem — the banana trees, the coconut trees, the language … lovely … The ending is a bit of a shock but that works for me. I am immersed in the beauty of this place and then the sudden realization that it is one you are leaving. Great poem.