she goes "home"

tomorrow morning, she leaves us.

car packed to the hilt
basil plant in the back seat
backpacks overstuffed with favorite books
once left behind
making this place a little less home
(or so I lament).

she heads for O-Hi-O first
then to Tennessee.
who can can call a state like "Tennessee" home?
that's not home.

here is home
where we'll be waiting for her
when she is done getting smart.

there's some letting go to be done here,
I know.
I'll get right on it, too.

but not tonight,
thankyouverymuch.