What Is Family

Family are the shouts in the dark that keep you awake 
trying to be invisible under your blankets. 
Family is the warm heart you run to 
when everyone else at the rink skates too fast
and you've cut your knees on the ice.
Family are given to you at birth
with your eyes and lips and nose. 

They will stick to you wherever you go
and shape how you see
and what you say
and how you are seen
forever.

Family are found new each day
wherever you put your heart last.
Family are the people you share bread with,
and whoever you share the lack of bread with.

Sometimes your family aren't people.
Family is whoever lives under the tent of your soul.
Your family can be as big as you are,
and from birth to death, your real, real family
are the ones who make you grow bigger.