Tonight's Poet Corner: I Could Be A Scotsman

I Could Be A Scotsman
by Belinda Roddie

I could wear a tartan frock coat
with the colors of my clan -
if I had one, at least. I could try
to be a decent Scotsman, if

I set my mind to it - if I hightailed
it to the Highlands, if I brewed
my feelings like tea or ale
and drank it to keep myself

stubborn. I could go back to
Edinburgh and brave the rain,
if only to see its glorious castle
press its stony lips to the mist again.

I could tattoo the name Galloway
to my shoulder, as if it were my ID.
I could be a Scotsman if I wanted to,
but maybe I wouldn't be fully me.