Captured

Captured

Namesake, shepherd, young man, kid.
Sitting at a table in the back
of the taverna. Dry wood, clean air.
Drinking the free drinks given to him
by the fishermen, because he lived
alone on the mountains.
Quiet and stars. Because he returned
with his flock once a year. A simple
thing to be a myth to your people
to learn how to make money and have fun.
Each drink they gave him came
with a few almonds and a piece
of bread, or a few olives and a piece
of feta. The road looked across at
Thessaloniki. The sea with the Turkish
ships and the near war again.
The young man who lived alone
on the mountains with his sheep.

Linda Gregg

from "All of it Singing".