home for the holidays

the house smells like dogs and pine.
the floor makes noises in the same spots,
and some more spots.
eggs, scrambled.
stuffy nose, stuffy everything.

in the movies they feel so loved,
everyone cheers,
everyone rings real loud.
old friends stop by,
you drink warm things,
you feel warm things after drinking.
everyone missed you.

but here, in this birdcage chest,
you miss everyone
else.

the dictionary will never define
what it felt like
when i was looking out the back of the taxi,
at you,


in your wool hat.