Up North

By Hunter Guarino

Towering mountains and glittering inlet are my boundaries year-long pines creating a deep green backdrop

Winter of soft crushed diamonds on the ground the wind whispers as I rush over the white hills on my skis warm beds and kisses to come home to

Planting in the summer, fighting the re-growing weeds everlasting sunlight interrupting my sleep pedaling along the roads, we stop to eat before taking on the journey home Trees turning to a carpet of red and gold with the coming of fall dust is brushed off books and binders sweaters wrapped around our shoulders

Foxes prancing through the yard like kings moose licking off leaves with their long pink tongues birds swooping in and out of bushes blood red salmon flying in the streams, racing not to be caught by treacherous hooks

Waking to the sound of eggs sizzling on the frying pan helping grandma roll the meat balls the light bounces off the smoke from the grill mom’s chicken soup filled with love

This is my home

• Hunter Guarino, 12, lives in Anchorage.