i was raised

i was raised in a white house
set on a hill
that became my heaven
i'd wander the fields
the creek
the barns
never finding a treasure
and never realizing
that it was my treasure

i was raised by family
that lived in the house
i'd follow dad wherever he went
and feel a glow when he reached for my hand
i'd wonder at my mother's beauty and style
and pray that one day i'd be pretty like her
i'd wear her high heels and andy's hand-me-downs
because they would make me more like him

i was raised by grandparents
that lived down the road
a grandma that taught me to play in dishwater
and keep stirring even when you're bored
i watched grandpa work and learned
sometimes silence and dinner are all you need

i was raised that "we'll be here if you ever need us"
are not just words
and "explore the world but don't forget to come home"
will eventually take me back
to where i was raised