The Maker The Charles Causley Literary Blog
Hometown, by Grace Hussey
Grace won the first place prize in the 16-18 years category in our 2022 Young People’s Poetry Competition.
“Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing.” – Ocean Vuong
i.
You pluck gold-plated
words from the sunset
in the sky, all lies
that we watch from our bench
arms around cold,
unlovable shoulders.
We loved this town
when we were trapped together
but now the fish bowl
is growing smaller
and I don’t know what to tell you
so I just stay silent.
ii.
Home is the first place we run from
they say, but I always
ran towards it
until I saw it was full of bones.
I want a plaster
for my knees, a kiss on
the forehead,
what I never had at ten.
Because grazed knees should be
more common
than a slap in the face,
but never in my case.
iii.
What I wouldn’t give
to walk up your stairs again,
through the fields
and the abandoned hospital
where only the
drug dealers tread.
You promised me
eight months
but time is running out
before it’s even begun.
The seasons change me
and I let them
iv.
I choose this town
over you- as though
I can separate the two.
Our hometown becomes my hometown.