one bedroom apartment

i shiver

when i ride by the old apartment

complex.

the one bedroom

affair,

with a sliding back door.

it was all i could afford

back then.

the wind

and rain

leaking through

the thin glass and

gap

in the door.

the washer and dryer,

a small

stack

in the closet.

the neighbors above

and below

with their dogs and

children,

their meals and music,

their arguments

all coming

down into my ears

and nose.

seems like yesterday,

when i was there,

despite being so long

ago.

but i was thankful,

grateful.

for back then it was 

a castle, it was home,

it was gold.