If I Get to Scotland
I will sweat and shiver so much
I won’t be able to take photographs,
lift a pen or use my phone. I will struggle
to talk, my lungs won’t work well.
I will not breathe Scottish mist.
I will not travel by train, boat or plane.
I will not leave wherever I stay.
I will not hug and kiss.
Family and friends
will keep their distance.
My body will ache, grow weak,
a knife, a fork, a spoon, an espresso cup
will be too heavy to pick up.
I will not go to Visocchi’s
for a big Scottish breakfast with bacon and brown sauce.
If I get to Scotland, I could be confined to bed
for weeks, maybe months.
I might only have a cough.
Good Friday 2020
For Manna
Today
my flight
has been cancelled
Today
I am
not in London
Today
I am
still in Athens
Today
you are
not in London
Today
you are
in Scotland
Today
we will
chat on Skype
Today
is going
to be tough
Today
we were
meant to hug
…………….
Kevin Reid lives and travels between Britain and Greece. His work has been published in various online and printed journals. A mini pamphlet Burdlife (Tapsalteerie) was published in 2017 and Androgyny (4word) was published in May 2018. A new pamphlet is due for publication in 2020.