white folks say i remind them
of home      i who have been homeless
all my life except for their
kitchen cabinets

i who have made the best
of everything
pancakes     batter for chicken
my life

the shelf on which i sit
between the flour and cornmeal
is thick with dreams
oh how i long for

my own syrup
rich as blood
my true nephews     my nieces
my kitchen     my family
my home