Flowers and Front Porch Steps

Flowers and Front Porch Steps
I come from the painted front porch of my first house 
That is tainted with my laughter like the colors
It blooms in the summertime, like the weeds in the cracks of the sidewalk
That the kids used to pretend were flowers

Well eventually we realized that the flowers were indeed weeds.
And I come from the weeds that bloomed around our minds like the crowns we used to wear 
The vines that grew up and up and around
And the flowers that grew inside ourselves that withered away in the storm that destroyed our toy houses and cars 

I come from the drunken chant of my father through his blurry vision
And the whistling chorus of his whispers that shatter into shouts on that night in the snow
I pace my room back and forth trying to rewrite the chorus and learn the words by heart
Just to have a song to sing

The words come out right for the first time in my life and I hope to God it’s real this time
And I come from the voices that sang me to sleep every night despite him
That bloom like the flower weeds in the cracks of the sidewalk
And as I stand on the tainted and painted front porch of my first house 
It feels nice to be home.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Agustin Avatar
February 5, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
A   Avatar
March 10, 2016 at 2:37 AM
Hayley, enjoyed this one all over again. LINDA
A  Avatar
July 5, 2015 at 1:59 AM
hayley:) Wonderful poem, I enjoyed dropping by. Love SKAT
A   Avatar
December 20, 2014 at 4:03 PM
Hayley, , A nice warm WELCOME to poetry soup. I hope you enjoy being part of the community. You'll find many friendly poets, who are ready to support and give positive feedback. I want to be the first to invite you on over, to the contest page. I OFFER MY CONTEST, "WINTER POEMS" in hopes it inspires you to write another poem. I look forward in following you and your poetry:) Enjoy the Christmas Holidays! From: your new poet friend@-> LINDA <-@
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace