By Krisna Kumar

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These two poems may sound familiar at first but they may surprise you in what they are actually about. These are for the days when you’re missing home.

Batteries Not Included

Batteries not included
Means another trip to the store
Means more polluting the earth with your car
Means another dollar spent and another
Small chat with the cashier. 
Batteries not included
Means another reason to see the sun
Means getting up and getting dressed
Means another tip given to a stranger and another
Smiling face to greet.
Batteries not included
Means figuring out how to install them
Means digging a screwdriver out from the garage
Means wasting an hour searching through boxes and another
Hour putting them all back.
Batteries not included 
Means calling your dad for help for the first time in years
Means asking him how he’s doing
Means hearing about what you’ve missed and finding another
Reason to go home again. 

To Those Who Can’t Go Home for Christmas

The kitchen might not smell as warm,
The table might not look as full,
The fireplace might not burn all night,
The door might not open all day,
But,
The food will still be good and warm,
The cookie tin will still be full,
The snow will still fall all night,
The calls will still come in all day. 

Process

These two poems were inspired by Maggie Smith’s “Poem Beginning With a Retweet,” which starts with a popular phrase as inspiration. We brainstormed different common sayings like “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.” Both poems ended up focusing on viewing life optimistically and end on a positive tone. There is also a strong theme of missing home and family.