Last

Arlington, Texas

My home for five years

Yesterday I got on a plane to you

For the last time that I know of

This is our last summer together

When we first met, the sun so bright and warm at 8pm

After invasive immigration “welcome”

You lavishness welcomed me as I settled into my pool house

My first experience of life behind gates

My British charm delightful

Until the second day came

when I called my host’s adult son

 a smart ass

And I realised your language is different

And I have a potty mouth.

I wondered whether I would fit

In within your

Redneck ways

And cowboy hats

But there is so much more to you than

The show ‘Dallas’ portrays

Arlington you were the place

I learnt

Really learnt

Youth ministry

Learnt it’s significance

Learnt that it makes my heart beat

Learnt that mediocrity doesn’t pay the bills

And doesn’t save souls

Learnt to delegate

Let go

Not control

And grow others

Learnt how hard

Yet beautiful it is

To create family

Family that loves Father

Learnt that consumerism

Is in the church

But authenticity

Brings freedom

Learnt about the journey

The conversation

The adventure in you

Your word

Really knowing and studying your word

And your spirit

In the everyday

And Arlington,

You were the place that comforted me

Wiped tears

In the face of

suicide

breast cancer

homesickness

brain tumours

And most of all

I thank you

For getting me married

And keeping me married

For without the mentors of your city

I know I would be

Another divorce statistic

Or another lonely girl

Unable to trust

The best way to know a city

Is to get lost in it

And now I don’t know where

Arlington ends

And I begin

So I put on my swimsuit

Enjoy your sun

Sip all the Sonic I can

And forget about the tears that will flow

When nine weeks

Is counted down.