Belleville, Kansas

Here's to you hometown
And the memories that have shaped me
The daily breakfast stop at Kravemore's with my grandparents
The mud pies I made my sister eat
The goats that became my dearest friends, regardless of their desires
The camoflauged boat where I spent my infanthood fishing with grandpa
The fried potatoes my grandma would make every evening for supper and I'd always have seconds
The old swing set where I first discovered mosquitos and bruises
The fireflies
The numerous pets that I still know by name
The grumpy horse I was bound to befriend, before it bit me
The summer softball I played with passion
The man on Sunset Drive that gave away quarters on Halloween...I hated him
The friendships I developed on J Street
The obstructive loudness of the races each summer
The spice girls
The hands of my grandmother crocheting afgans to keep us warm
The library's rocking chair where I often went to read about adventure
The chocolate covered pretzals we made every Christmas
The trashy trailor park where we temporarily lived
The strawberry and banana pudding I would steal from my grandma's fridge
The barbie car go-cart my uncle created for me
The after school drinks for jr. highers at the Goose Crossing
The Belleville Actors Guild and forensics team
The pink house
The lady who pierced my bellybutton, she taught me an unforgettable lesson
The room where I played school with my sisters
The streets where I learned to ride my bike
The swimming pool I peed in
This is my ode to you Belleville
No other town or city has done for me what you have
And I will never forget where I came from and I will not be ashamed
I am already missing what we had
I wish you the best and may you bless the lives of your other inhabitants the way you have mine