"An Ode to Our First Place"

To you, small box of the dull white walls,

To the metal handles that always fall off

To the jet engine fan in the bathroom

And the angry wasps on the patio eves

I will not miss you on the summer nights

When the room was stifling hot

Until the whirling air condition clicked

Turning it into a freezing ice box

I will not miss the rowdy neighbor boys

Splashing and shouting in the pool

While I attempted to relax in the hot tub

That was rarely ever hot

I will not miss the cramped corners

Stubbing my toe on the dresser

Or squeezing behind the bathroom door

To retrieve a skirt from the closet

Today we say goodbye to your walls

To the colony of ants that lie in wait

Seeping into the little apartment

Like a steady leak on a rainy day

We say goodbye to the grey haired man

Who smokes pot in the apartment below

And to the friendly couple who rummage

Through the dumpsters every day

Despite my protests, I will miss you

As I think of our ribboned wedding gifts

Spread across the carpeted floor

When returning from Big Sur

How our rows of wine glasses sparkled

When delicately placed on your shelves

How thrilled we were to welcome

Our couch and mattress upon arrival

When I think of eating pizza by the pool

And hot dogs before the Angels game

Of brunch set on the bistro table

In the middle of the living room

Of finishing my first novel late at night,

Celebrating with flowers and a bottle of wine

Of our first Christmas together,

Opening presents 'neath our little tree

The dancing and the cooking,

Reading, watching, and chatting

Dreaming of our future together

Earnestly praying for wisdom

I cannot help but smile

And wipe back a little tear

When I think that we will never

Cross that threshold again

For today we say goodbye

To our first place, flaws and all

Though you drove us crazy at times

I shall always cherish your dull white walls.