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The Taxi
I know the feeling of an empty room
Where once lived my dreams
And laughter
And children playing
And a busy kitchen filled the air
More than the furniture or paint or wood
Ever stood the test of time
Or became a priority in my mind
I know the sound of harsh words…
“You have to leave.”
“We’re changing the locks.”
“You can’t come back.”
“You don’t belong here anymore.”
I know the bitterness
Of throwing things away
That normally I would have kept;
Of sore hands, feet, and back
As I removed my belongings
To get them out for the new owner
Of a place I didn’t want to sell
When I moved my rocking chair onto the sidewalk
And let strangers enjoy my windows
I know what it is like -
To see them watch to make sure I leave
To see my kids’ playground and swings
Torn out and thrown into the trash
To remain friendly and business-like
When I was crushed on the inside
To walk in the other direction
Away from the years I tried
To work and save and hope that someday
I would have a home to be proud of…
“Foreclosure” is just a word to many people
But for the years and the work I lost
For the sleepless nights I turned and tossed
For all the bridges I now must cross
To a new life that isn’t welcome
To a new way that now I disdain
To an unknown future
That beckons me to a new day
To a home I haven’t found
To a job that is elusive
To a cold world that can be so abusive
I now cringe with fear
And there is no one near
In this experience they call foreclosure…
And most people don’t understand
That the little things and the memories
Are what matter – not the building or the walls…
But now I must go on
And even if I don’t want it
The future is waiting
In a taxi outside
And I hear the horn blowing
But I don’t want to move
I want everything to end
Right here, right now
But as I walk away
And hear the front door close behind me forever
I remember some words…
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
And, “He has made a city and a new country that will never fade away -
A city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.”
And he is waiting for me in the taxi
To ride with me wherever I go in this life
Until the day I walk away from these temporary dwellings
Into his home, never to leave or say “Goodbye.”
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