La Familia

LA FAMILIA


Even as a child

I wanted to leave

just split

go somewhere warm

sit on a curb and watch the California sun come up

over the rolling hills of a skate park

and

I knew that all that candy apple paint

and warm white vinyl

had to be there for a reason

I figured

I could just about live forever

near a beach

dig my toes down in the cool sand

the hum of traffic

rolling on a sea of pavement

and twinkling tail lights

off to bed

But even as a child

I knew the value of family

far out weighed

a hobo stick and hanky

and

that freedom

was a small price to pay

for

love



Paul Balanchuk / June /10