Away for the Holidays

Our woodshed in Campton Hollow.

Away for the Holidays, holy indeed!

Away from my children, fruit of my seed.
Away from my home, away from our hearth.

Away from my Shirl-Girl, best wife on Earth.

Why go away at this one time of year?

Why eat solo dinners of ciorba and beer?
Why go to Romania's Cluj-Napoca?

Why not stay at home, playing computer poker?

If you have been to this handsome old town,

If you have friends here, and love that abounds,
If you have taught here, and come back for more,

If you have lived here, then you know the score.

Râul Someș Mic, the Little Somesh River, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Cluj is an old Transylvanian town,

Cluj is at Christmas in high spirits found,
Cluj on the Someș Mic, lighted in white.

Cluj's piațas shine, happy, and bright!

You see, although seventy-one, I'm still glad,

You see, I've been given the best gift I've had,
You see I thank God, and thank Shirley, as well,

You see, I've been made free to travel and dwell,

In places away from my dear Campton Hollow,

In pursuit of learning, and new friends to follow,
In cultures far different, and countries far distant,

In grateful joy, until no more existent.

Merry Christmas! / Craciun Fericit!

________________________

by Duncan C. McDougall, 

21 December, 2014.  All rights reserved. 

Quotation permitted with proper citation

 of the author and of this blog.