"Oh! To be a turtle"

A poem by Lindsey Angisetty

Oh to be a turtle
with your home on your back,
to cuddle inside
when you sense an attack.

Oh to be a lion
with your home in a den,
to supervise your cubs
in a natural play pen.

Oh to be a bee
with your home in a hive,
to buzz all around
with a wail, jump, and jive!

Oh to be a bird 
with your home in a nest,
to look out for danger
and keep your babies abreast.

Oh to be a human,
but where is our home?
In a tree like a monkey? 
In a hole like a mole? 

In a house like a mouse? 
Oh no, it can't be!
Our home is in our heart,
with our beloved family. 

- - - - - - - 

Lindsey wrote "Oh! To be a turtle" for Kaitlyn's family after they suffered a house fire just a few short weeks ago. In all honesty, we chuckled when Linds told us she'd written the Branchaws a poem. Who among us not only writes poetry, but also sends it out into the world?

But when Lindsey read her poem aloud, we got goosebumps, teared up, and all agreed it sounded like a picture book. I can see it now: the cardboard pages, the whimsical artwork — a sweet little lesson taught in rhyme. Never change, Linds. Never change.