The Seventh Day

As the sun sets on the seventh day,

and the birds sing songs of welcome

to the moon and stars,

my feet will, once again, touch that rocky shore.

My lungs will immerse themselves in the salty breeze.

I will breathe with the air of gratitude,

as the pieces of myself I left behind

in that magical place

will join with the souls of remembrance who come to greet me.

For the first time in sixteen years

I know, in my mind, that I will be home.

But what I also know is that

in my heart, I never left.