The Screen Door Days

This poem includes memories and reflections of growing up before and after my parents divorce which is why I included the line:

“Back when family meant everyone and not the spoils of failed promises.”

As an only child, I grew up in a small, quaint neighborhood where everyone knew everyone and their business. The house we lived in was about 900 square feet and sat right next to a set of train tracks that the neighborhood kids often played on and a huge river was just about 300 yards away. We would put pennies on the tracks to flatten them when the trains rolled through and every 4th of July our entire neighborhood would sit outside together and watch fireworks over the river. I remember when mama would cook, I could always smell it coming from the screen door while I played outside and you do eventually get used to the train noises.

After the divorce, mama and I moved to another very small town about 30 minutes away out in the middle of nowhere U.S.A. I was so scared but I see now that was just the beginning of the Lord’s work in my life. I was truly meant to be in that small town, in that small school, with those sweet friends. I will always see that place as home.