Home Is

Home is my parents‘ house playing Marco Polo in the round plastic pool my father patched frequently „Papa, der Pool muss papariert werden!“ the neighbours would hear me shout across the lane Home is the bed I slept in, Bibi Blocksberg ringing in my ears night after night as I dozed off Home is where the wind crashes against the roof of the house, of the car, the school building, always with me safe inside, wondering about those who are without shelter, lying on porches, pavements, in front of Mr Parker’s corner store, the Ferrari shop, where behind bulges of blankets a glass wall houses cars in shiny red and black Home is that place where the question „what are you?“ follows me from all nooks and crannys of the Mother City, from the woman on the market asking tourist prices of me, to the man standing on the pavement who explained that my hair looks „white“ but my teeth „zulu“ but leaving my white German mother uninterrogated by the same question Home is the words I speak the food I eat the songs I sing when I am left to myself with the thoughts of my past and present wrapped around my soul Home is the place with the person I love, head resting on chest in moments of joy and pain Where I remember my first thoughts though where the playground I played at still lures children to play amongst „Hundescheiße und Schaukeln“ Home is where the question „wo kommst du her?“ follows me from all nooks and crannys of the Hauptstadt, from the old man at the bar to the woman studying Asien-und Afrikawissenschaften, who claims I look „exactly“ like her friend because „Ihr habt genau die gleichen Haare!“ The place where I ride my bike alone in the middle of the night, in the heart of the city, without fear, but where I never frequent the outskirts on my own, because children’s playful words telling on each other „Dat sach ich dem Führer!“ ring in my ears and make me wonder who their parents are Home is the words I speak the food I eat the songs I sing when I am left to myself with the thoughts of my past and present wrapped around my soul