Whispers and Welcome

Whispers and Welcome

By Annette Camp 

September 1, 2025

Coming home to Alabama,

there's no need to explain my accent.

I don’t have to bike the whole neighborhood,

paddle a river, or climb a mountain

to feel that I belong.

In Colorado, the mountains and rivers welcome me,

their vastness and light carrying a quiet joy,

neighborhoods stretching wide and still,

inviting me to wander, to breathe, to discover.

Here, Alabama greets me differently.

Pink blossoms nod in the afternoon breeze,

light showers scatter across the yard,

and birds chirp to awaken the day.

Family surrounds me, my best friend nearby,

and the air itself lets me simply be.

The door creaks open for me,

bringing to mind all that I love -

the people, laughter, hugs, warmth -

and I settle into the rhythm of my dad's home.

Returning, old streets whisper memories,

and the possibility of staying longer than a moment

stirs quietly inside me.

I look toward the future with curiosity,

wondering which places, which people,

which rhythms and spaces,

will hold me, shape me,

and finally make me feel at home.