Home to Me
by Alexa Krotova
California State University of Fullerton
Alexa Krotova, a senior at California State University, Fullerton, is an English major with a concentration in English Education. Although she is seeking a career in education, she has always admired writing and hopes for this to be the first of many published works. She writes poetry, short stories, and songs, aiming for her work to be relatable and touching to those who read it.
Don’t ask me what the place I call home is.
My palms will get sweaty
And my voice will start to tremble.
For where this place is,
Or if it even exists,
Will remain a mystery
Unsolved for years to come.
Growing up a military brat,
I lived life the planes, trains, and automobiles way.
11 different schools.
8 different homes.
No, not homes. Houses.
Because what even is a home?
Was home living in my uncle’s guest bedroom?
Where I waited everyday
For my dad to return from BootCamp?
No, that couldn’t be.
Was home the sunny Gulf of Mexico?
Where my mom and I lived on our own?
Where I watched her collapse to the floor
As a growing sister’s life vanished inside her?
That’s definitely no home to me.
Was home the back side of Camp Pendleton?
Where I got stuck on the monkey bars
And waited for Dad to come rescue me?
That wasn’t it either.
Was home the bigger house we moved to
Across town when my brother came along?
Where I danced in the park for hours
With my temporary friends?
Nope, that place didn’t last either.
So where is the place that I can call home?
Is this my home?
This small town in Riverside County
That isn’t even on most maps?
Where I graduated high school
And met heartbreak for the first time?
How can I ever know?
For the place that I know best
Is that cardboard box
Used to carry my belongings from one place
To the next.
That is my home; that unseemly little box.
Interview with the Author
1. What pieces inspired you to start writing poetry?
I have been inspired by many poets and works over the years, but I have been especially touched by Sylvia Plath's poetry, as she discusses difficult topics such as mental illness in "Lady Lazarus" and family relationships in "Daddy." Her personal touches and deep emotional connection to her writing have inspired me to include my own personal
experiences in my work, as it creates more emotion and relatability for the reader.
2. What theme do you find yourself constantly writing about in your works?
I consistently find myself writing about my childhood, as mine was not always the easiest. The hardships and struggles I faced at a young age taught me a lot about myself and have shaped the person I am today, allowing me to convey rich personal emotion in my writing.
3. What do you think are important elements in thought provoking poems?
The most important element in these thought-provoking poems is emotion. The reader needs something to connect with in order to fully maintain their attention. This emotion can be enhanced by infusing your own personality
into your writing and incorporating vivid imagery for the reader to visualize.
4. What role do you think poetry has on our society today?
I think poetry plays a much bigger role in society than most people expect. It is the basis of many things that people enjoy, such as music, movies, plays, and most importantly, our everyday speech. Many of the phrases and words we use today were created by William Shakespeare, meaning the influence of poetry is incorporated into our lives daily, and most people don't even realize it.
