Then and Now
After college graduation,
Oh, so many years ago,
I traveled throughout Europe,
All my youthful seeds to sow.
With my friends, I took a ferry
To a popular Greek isle
Which had very few hotels,
A hostel being more our style.
But instead, some local women
Met the ferries at the dock,
Where they beckoned so we’d follow
As they eyed us, taking stock.
We were ushered to a bedroom,
Passing family looking on,
Where we dropped our knapsacks, surely
A tradition that’s long gone.
Handing drachmas to a stranger,
Much less sleeping in her bed,
Is a far, far cry from Greece today,
From articles I’ve read.
There are hotels by the hundreds
Being built on isles in Greece
And, despite the locals’ protests,
This construction will not cease.
How much cooler to be greeted,
From a dark and choppy sea,
By a smiling native grandma
Speaking what was Greek to me!
Copyright © Ilene Bauer | Year Posted 2024
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment