Homecoming was supposed to be a detour

the hum and crackle of a headphone that's survived underwater

like a broken lung

or a noisy wrapper

an intrusive whisper

like three friends back-packing through justice

self-doubt, guilt and longing

they go together like graham crackers and soda

enough to get you by

but they'll always know you're a foreigner

you try too hard

you laugh too loud

you have manila envelopes in your mind

to categorize each 'adventure' into the mundane

into the disengenuous

It's where all the cool kids go while they're still young

you always thought you'd be back

with more patience and more money

once you manage to stop

falling asleep to blue-lit rooms