the way home

everyone knows the way home
like an old familiar t-shirt you
slip into it unconsciously and
barely notice the halfway diner
the gnarly tree next to the street
one before your last turn left
or the shuttered duplex built
too many years ago and housing
too many renters who couldn't
be bothered to fix the doorframe
until one day the diner is now
a four-storey condo unit with
pricey cladding and a keypad
the duplex gets a facelift and
one side is a salon while the
gnarly tree burned down while
some say lightning others blame
neighbourhood kids high on
something but all you know
is you cannot find the way
home
suddenly it doesn't fit and
even when you arrive by
forcing yourself to think
of street names and perhaps
even using your phone the
place has changed so much
you don't even recognise it
the paint is new and the dog
as well but she's friendly so
you think maybe it's still the
right place with a new light
where you can still slip in
just like you always used to
yet you find yourself knocking
instead of just walking in like
you belong and the door opens
but it's a stranger's face that
stares curiously at you as you
stammer in confusion and he
asks you kindly if you are
lost