welcome home, you total stranger

coming home

Photo Credit: Steve Harvey from Unsplash

“son, you look like
you haven’t eaten in days.”

yes father, I’ve trained myself
to fast whenever I’m home.

you barely discern their joyous praise
amidst the smothering kisses and embraces
plump, familiar hands, smearing beads of sweat
the arid San Joaquin Valley breeze
providing little…