Christmas after 40 years away

The color of the woods is not quite right
The color of the sky
The curious reserve in conversation
Unspoken judgments, sometimes spiteful gossip
And the cut of clothes
Are achingly unfamiliar
The strain of translation
And attempts to communicate
The nuances of feelings.

I miss my old furniture
Miss hickory and walnut growing in the yard
The tappety tap of the yellow bellied sapsucker
Sweet love song of the carolina wren
Old stains on the carpet and silence of the snow
The lovely gentle turning of a phrase
and easy going friendliness of Appalachia
and have a nice day y’all, you take care now
And the rush of warm air
In the supermarket entrance
On Christmas Day

I love it here in Scotland and I want to stay
And nothing is the same.

Mike O’Kane 2020 Isle of Bute