The Village Revisited.

 

After three long covid years

We travel to Evros.

Welcomes, hugs, ‘Allo?’ *

Continuing as if we’d never left.

 

 Family ranged round tables

Sharing everyday fare, new dishes,

News, plans, grief.

A close, caring community

 

At the graveyard we clean and weed,

Thinking of dear ones passed,

White river stones keep the sites

Pristine, dignified.

 

And glass doors of candle containers

Clank melodically yet eerily in the evening breeze.

 

We pay one last call to the old homestead

Its crannies and shadows whisper sweet memories.

 

We leave, laden with eggs, garlic, mikikia*, langites,*

Considering the challenges and adventures each one faces.

With batteries recharged, kinship rekindled,

From each other we derive strength, hope, joy.

 

*Allo – the English equivalent might be – ‘So what else is new?’

*Mikikia, langites – the local, traditional and delicious equivalents of doughnuts and pancakes, respectively.