The Visit

You cannot go back here
You were made for there
You are a child
of a different place
It happens sometimes
It has been happening for years
But now, only now
you know.

That place is not you now
Not your place, it is theirs
it will become strange, like the
stairway in a stranger's house
and it will become peaceful
to forget-- Friday dinners
and the smells of familiar kitchens
and an uncle's laughter
at what a cute kid you were.

Maybe in your old place
one cousin will say she saw it coming,
and the aunties will shake their heads
Coming yes, always a little different,
rebellious, wanted too much--
Different.
but then she will sigh and say,
Didn't she have lovely hair