Yannis Ritsos: A Selection from the Forties - Triceratops Home
Yannis Ritsos: A Selection from the Forties - Triceratops Home
Yannis Ritsos: A Selection from the Forties - Triceratops Home
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<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>:<br />
A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong><br />
The selection <strong>from</strong> <strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>' poetry that follows is not<br />
so much representative as it is indicative. It is meant to point to<br />
certain aes<strong>the</strong>tic tendencies and conceptual structures that have<br />
characterized <strong>Ritsos</strong>' work <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> very beginning of his literary<br />
activity until today. In that sense, at least, <strong>the</strong> eight poems published<br />
here can be said to constitute an exemplary selection.<br />
—The Editors
58<br />
MEZANYXTA<br />
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
Meyikri &atpocpsyytat Sairiovta4 to ?up& T./1G yOxca,<br />
(3111trca, TC06 xXifiouy thy incvo aou,<br />
nock Elm ouit6; 6 iaxtoc TCOU iivel3alvat aT6 =Pave<br />
%,613orca.; aTix Sub 'Sty wittapa;<br />
Nticrca, [la Ito.roatnai.ca , 6 xp6toc axavS&Xri;tb<br />
at& TV4p.ca toff nopdcOupou,<br />
oE xcaaapfaeg azek TVX7C mita= xat, at& xpivli 'taw cpav-cipcov.<br />
Ti xpeccgetat aup,n6vLo& nt,24 tou apayycyto5;<br />
'AXXot. Tpunibaocy a764 wrcchoraa, try; Acra,q,<br />
axxot pircIto‘y at& opipsTpcc scat -cigt,Saliouv,<br />
&AXot ni)pco to last8c6: tou -cocp.stou xoct napacuaav tb x(Bp.c& -mug,<br />
a,13.cbc 6 axUXo; not') [Lag Uxocas yaul4st ndc.Xt at6 cpeTy&pc,<br />
coU; cppoupob atac ttaxpLy& cpuVosLa,,<br />
npdmil Expribl TcyciCec tb yepOpc,<br />
tiatepa of rcap-cec .z4ouv, ate rot& atixst tb a7C6ancasp,ce,<br />
niptouve to cpavdcpcot vapo6puTcc dcxotiye-ccu .76 acptiptypa To°<br />
TpaEvou<br />
Scat/ of nilece bp6p.ot xisEvoyta,t, dm' 'a; X6yxec.<br />
sOrcthf3p7ig 1941
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 59<br />
MIDNIGHT<br />
A great starry night showing its bear claws,<br />
foreign footsteps stealing your sleep,<br />
what is this shadow climbing on <strong>the</strong> ceiling<br />
cutting <strong>the</strong> room in half ?<br />
Footsteps, a motorcycle, <strong>the</strong> trigger's sound —<br />
<strong>the</strong> lantern through <strong>the</strong> windowpanes,<br />
<strong>the</strong> cockroaches in <strong>the</strong> soldiers' shoes and helmets.<br />
What's <strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong> moon's compassion now?<br />
Some have hidden in <strong>the</strong> trunks of <strong>the</strong> night,<br />
some have entered <strong>the</strong> coffins and travel,<br />
some have taken <strong>the</strong> cashier's keys and surrendered <strong>the</strong>ir earth,<br />
and this dog that forgot us barks again at <strong>the</strong> moon,<br />
awakens <strong>the</strong> sentries at <strong>the</strong> distant watchtowers,<br />
<strong>the</strong> first explosion blows up <strong>the</strong> bridge,<br />
<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> doors creak, at <strong>the</strong> corner stands <strong>the</strong> squadron,<br />
<strong>the</strong> street lamps fall face down and <strong>the</strong> train's whistling is heard<br />
when all five roads are closed by <strong>the</strong> bayonets.<br />
A<strong>the</strong>ns, October 1941
60 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
MATA I QMENH AIIOIAEH<br />
11,64Xtot avettot, gxouv Icipst 731 06071 llocc arts yup.vig 7c€6464aeg.<br />
OXct stvat 76ao Tcca.464 —144' 645731 31 Adwacc4 Tcoti cpu4sc p,t& aPics[tivii<br />
Oalceaaoypacpla<br />
xe b raxtog To0 xpePPoc7to0 to Aostist atb 7cistotic4<br />
Itat 764 poOxo4 7cs7cciiivcc atilv xo4p6xXo4<br />
—6 icsactplvo; 764 7C0Cpecciias Sw xittou.<br />
K' kb tl yupst5scg pE T607) 7"Ct[LOV7j<br />
a17161J0Y7OGC -424 xipta aou adc vd4 7po4Pa.; 764 axotvc64 gv6g Icapc41340<br />
tot; yX4a7pist a76 rirmato;<br />
`0 d4yipocc 70)4E4 c& cp6)704 Tc6X73c, ikcyce4st, 764 Siv7pct,<br />
sc4(bvst 76 My° xop7dcpc ytirm Totic TriXsypc4cpotok a7aougtisydasc<br />
GX,Cig 137ip,OV401)V CrCe4 XCEI6CYCpanGt,<br />
xabs avOpo7co4 gxst, gvo4 stop,p4474 17dcro nem) atip %%pate& TOU,<br />
oE soc4v7dcpot 847CX6VOYCOGC CrCb d4[I,7CiXWV6 tour,<br />
I.Olt,i0010 to 17:ZIA "C(7))0 cppoupthy a764 yuAdcxtoc.<br />
Aomby 76 ipscg. KC gimog 71 thcpslet TCOti pstg.;<br />
Ne57cactv %ad, 764 Unify= — aav p7copECs v' ivervintg 76) 7acyd4po sou.<br />
Tthpa, 6 xa7cv6c<br />
atistsc &cpwvo6 7ukvou dot' 76 ptXt not) xcivce<br />
mkt) 76v mucv6 no6 a7ixec atbv 6gov7c4 acivou -c6 xocad454 rco6<br />
Xedhixe.<br />
11046 auvLiAo empoaPtiet 17dtvou Tby ecrOotot.tivo rim<br />
placc a76 accvtaiwo 170Gpi7vilyp,cc ; "E o.) 3j Ppoxi)<br />
Sipvec Tok gprktoug a7pcmbvsg,<br />
nyfyst 737 ackX7nyio4 xelv.r1 TcoO 'xs cpcogst gym-gym 764 6v6itch7c4,<br />
Itoualtstist tour Tcdayv4oug twv wirmov. ,L1v gxouv 764 Tcc4cacat no0 va&<br />
zalMaouv.
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 61<br />
POSTPONED DECISION<br />
Old winds have replaced us on <strong>the</strong> bare plains.<br />
Everything is so old — and this lamp lighting a faded seascape<br />
and <strong>the</strong> bed's shadow falling obliquely on <strong>the</strong> floor<br />
and <strong>the</strong> clo<strong>the</strong>s thrown on <strong>the</strong> chair<br />
— <strong>the</strong> dead man abandoned <strong>the</strong>m down here.<br />
And you, what are you seeking so persistently<br />
extending your hands as if pulling <strong>the</strong> ropes of a ship gliding<br />
into <strong>the</strong> unknown?<br />
The wind encircles <strong>the</strong> lights of <strong>the</strong> city, torments <strong>the</strong> trees,<br />
uproots <strong>the</strong> little grass around <strong>the</strong> telegraph poles —<br />
large shadows pace on <strong>the</strong> cobblestones,<br />
each man has a piece of ice in his heart,<br />
<strong>the</strong> soldiers wrap <strong>the</strong>mselves with <strong>the</strong>ir jackets,<br />
<strong>the</strong> guard's feet freeze at <strong>the</strong> watchtowers.<br />
Well, you know it. Yet what's <strong>the</strong> use of knowing?<br />
The matches got wet too — you can't light your cigarette.<br />
Now <strong>the</strong> smoke<br />
stands voiceless over <strong>the</strong> kiss that burned<br />
like <strong>the</strong> smoke staying on <strong>the</strong> horizon above <strong>the</strong> ship that<br />
vanished.<br />
What signal flickers over <strong>the</strong> spread-out map<br />
in <strong>the</strong> wooden barracks? Outside <strong>the</strong> rain<br />
lashes at <strong>the</strong> desolate camp,<br />
smo<strong>the</strong>rs that bugle which had called <strong>the</strong> names one by one,<br />
moistens <strong>the</strong> benches in <strong>the</strong> gardens. The children have no<br />
place to sit.
62<br />
JOURNAL OP THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
°Eva 7CC7COtkat ILOG.ttoplvo arts 3p6p.o.<br />
"Eva 7c66t swayi.ivo st6 rcouto6tcst..<br />
Keucoco; TrIciBast a'rc' cb mpieupo. T1 ap6o.<br />
6[1,wc av gapapvsc Tb x6pc .c6 plumo — erne —<br />
Oa '4v:sae; slIzoAcc tib TeXetnato TcapiOupo. Mat eruotutp6 sou<br />
sa' 6 xaepicp-rti;<br />
p.i -c6v mixt6 oUpav6 ITivou ciTC' Xarca sou %0GTC \get.<br />
svocyeg €5aoXa 'spina aril v6rca.<br />
Mck Yaw; abyt vck 6slec gva mavo6pyto npdaonco<br />
xocOcbs 0' avo6youv Tat nav4o6pta 06pu43o,<br />
Yaw; a6yil. T6 CpC.OTELV6 TETpirovo crc6 icaTow.a.<br />
Tat xipteAa coG xpePaTto0 kaxpucsoviva. "Eva ataspcoplvo<br />
vouxittwo.<br />
K' w crs6 6p6p.o Iva natat no6 6wacast Ta npeirca AA-tivcx6:<br />
atacp6).m.<br />
Map-al; 1942
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 63<br />
A bloodstained shoe in <strong>the</strong> street.<br />
A foot stuck in <strong>the</strong> shoe.<br />
Someone leaps out of <strong>the</strong> window. What cold.<br />
Yet if you brought <strong>the</strong> hand to <strong>the</strong> forehead — he said —<br />
you'd have found <strong>the</strong> last window easily. And opposite you is<br />
<strong>the</strong> mirror<br />
with <strong>the</strong> thick sky over <strong>the</strong> lamp that smokes.<br />
You'd easily have made a hole in <strong>the</strong> night.<br />
But perhaps dawn will reveal a new face<br />
as <strong>the</strong> shutters will open noisily,<br />
perhaps <strong>the</strong> dawn. The shining square on <strong>the</strong> floor.<br />
The bed's headboard gilded. An ironed shirt.<br />
And outside in <strong>the</strong> street a child crying out <strong>the</strong> first Greek grapes.<br />
A<strong>the</strong>ns, March 1942
H TEAEYTA I A TEA. EKATONTA ET I A<br />
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
Ka-clicp6ptsav axtattiva xt-abvta, ph TcaAtat v-coucpixtot<br />
atxtoG tixop,t aTb yuAt6 SExo.); atpottpec.<br />
Movaxa ptxpac boytoltiva 7LOTil/CC4 xXstvav Tat Tzepaspa-ca<br />
7C/a0.) TODC.<br />
Etxav f3a6/set pitiveG %at ivilveg Tcavou s' ayvtotneg rci-cpEc<br />
Tcavou atb xt6vt p.cct 1.0 TiG &Xcic -coug Itat OGIITCiACM TOO; —<br />
a,AA0C %si Tcdtvou gva Tcbat gym xipc<br />
a,XXoc piritAo %ottp.dt.st -cou<br />
Ita06vag x' gvav Tadtspouq vexpot%.<br />
"rs-csoct riptaav p.i -ct; TcX7Tyig %at Tat %puorcarlipata<br />
OcI4ave Tat v-coucpixta TOD; GT& floaxta, a:6 xtOvt, arts %outpiXE;<br />
-ctT)v Siv-cpco<br />
a'cb etxotlot, civdtp,ssa crci.y71 )tat -caPavt, cycil syrcetvil<br />
TtoU (3yget cs-c6 nfato pipog -cis vtirrac 1f Iva li.mpb Aaaoapdtvapo<br />
"E-cots xAstatIlivTi Irby= kw; Tgouv -cat adv-cta Tb<br />
Tb xtdvt gXettove. liatif3atvav psydact notapta pis' a'c vt5rcot<br />
p.at xr5mtaXa, 7C7P7pCLCG %Mt axtspivec sTittotiec.<br />
Tat TCapecOupcc xXetvotv Tat ildt-ctot TOOg. Tat TVcilta Si piyyay.<br />
Eatv ToUg TutpAotic. Kot-cotisav %at& [Lisa.<br />
"Eftpexs Suvwcat stst've pipsg. Tb Tcotallt 5tot-ciflatve<br />
.c14 cr-c6ye; attic Aotixtot atTc' Tat Aothaa Trot% ap6p,ou;<br />
at7c6 xei cs-coO; OTcOvoloug x,' licrcepa mat Siv fiEspec.<br />
"Epive p.tat vo.vrct cs-carctat ypap,p1) et7c6 OtyvtosTo<br />
picsa crcily noAttefa la= avI viirrot s %at visa crcbv fiTcvo.<br />
"Et to em s 'CilY %AstStopivii xivapa cs-cbv xotvb Stapop.o<br />
Tcdtvou amptPtiig mat savatot c nOp-cac, gvaG 7ce0apivoc<br />
6pOto; Tcarca, emoupacogas Tin) TCAdtvg T011 wily Tcdp-cot<br />
Tafirri p Tack-cli civ rivotyag Da stoptc46utv.
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 65<br />
<strong>from</strong> THE LAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE MAN<br />
They ran downhill in torn jackets, with old guns<br />
without bread in <strong>the</strong>ir knapsacks without bullets.<br />
Only with small angry rivers did <strong>the</strong>y blockade <strong>the</strong> passages<br />
behind <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
They had marched for months on unfamiliar stones<br />
on <strong>the</strong> snow toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong>ir olive groves and vineyards —<br />
up <strong>the</strong>re some left a leg a hand<br />
some a big piece of <strong>the</strong>ir souls<br />
each left one or more dead.<br />
Then <strong>the</strong>y returned with wounds and frostbites<br />
<strong>the</strong>y buried <strong>the</strong>ir guns in <strong>the</strong> rocks, <strong>the</strong> snow, <strong>the</strong> hollows<br />
of trees<br />
<strong>the</strong> barn, in between <strong>the</strong> roof and <strong>the</strong> ceiling, in <strong>the</strong> dark<br />
warehouse<br />
leading to <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> night with a small oil lamp of<br />
patience.<br />
The locked door creaked as teeth gnash in <strong>the</strong> told.<br />
The snow melted. Big rivers came down in <strong>the</strong> night<br />
along with bones, caps and tattered flags.<br />
The windows shut <strong>the</strong>ir eyes. The windowpanes didn't shine.<br />
Like blind men. They looked inward.<br />
It rained hard those days. The river came down<br />
<strong>the</strong> roofs into <strong>the</strong> drainpipes and <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> drainpipes into <strong>the</strong><br />
streets<br />
and <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>re into <strong>the</strong> sewers — and <strong>the</strong>n you didn't know where.<br />
A fresh ashen line of <strong>the</strong> unknown remained<br />
in <strong>the</strong> city in <strong>the</strong> night even in sleep.<br />
Outside '<strong>the</strong> locked room in <strong>the</strong> common corridor<br />
just on top of <strong>the</strong> door planks, a dead man<br />
standing always, leaned his back against <strong>the</strong> door,<br />
back to back — if you had opened he'd have collapsed.
66 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
06TE A6yog Tccat vat xotp.710atc o5TE X6yog vat yup/aetc an' &XXo<br />
aou 7tAsup6.<br />
MAX& (3rjph= a-csyydt, axo-cetvat —13-11µa-ca Uva alb ap6p.o crct<br />
axOtAa<br />
y6pto ax6 'va xopo,&-ct =tont gva xop.pit-ct niyo Biwa° — 6iv<br />
'Weg —<br />
ytipto dtx6 latt tliuxp6 xat crcpoyyt)X6 xt' etp.i-coxo. K' gym pAxp6<br />
acpatoESto<br />
LSti) 'j Etat px-ca-co74ov-cav n&v.ta xXeca-c6 xt' 6X6xAlpo<br />
aaty -thy 6Bpdcp-rupo at6 ni-ctop.a dtif Tb arcaap.ivo Ospp,6p.s-coo.<br />
'Enptop.iva )(tooth., Eepon6-capa gym ava).611-co spb xaXotatpt.<br />
Bottf3apatagyeg hotAnatig. "Eva; ,icncpog aysp.oc acp6ge<br />
a&v Thy tpsAAb tP&A-c71 7co5 -cpayo6baye kpta wondoptot =6<br />
v-coutpsx18 t<br />
nal* Tic p,ith-ceg Tov alto-m*6°u cgttoita-ctxop<br />
criixons -cat piaa Too xat 7c736oCiag -c6 cpp&xvq. E-co6; -cofxotn<br />
jTav af3lai_tiva -cat csuvOlip.aca. Tx6x(ocpot xayoyto(3oAtap.ot a-c6<br />
13i0oq,<br />
xap,Tikat a'thy 64ov-ca 3j atyaXtat Tor) xaplyou 7coAgp.ou. 'Eva &Xoyo<br />
axo-ctottivo crciiv 7cXayt&.<br />
Erxe xoXkijast 6 niyoc 'cal 7ZGC7COISTCYL attifil0 %da"CCM, Trjy x&X-caa<br />
alb rthat.<br />
eat ccvdcp8oup.s — etTcay. Kai Sixtoc 7c66ta Oat avipeoup.a. Tottav<br />
of dtpanoat-ctic<br />
xap&Ezvot a& vat µ2Z; ax4ay to xap-ctat IL TeeL 7CM-CpLOYCMA -Cpayo158ca<br />
pac<br />
a& vat Wig acv Tic ayip.aisc !lag. Doh Xtrat atiyyscpa<br />
xpillowcav Itivou alb Pouv6 a& 666 7asEo08e; ax6°So allaa a' Iva<br />
.4dtxt<br />
a' gym f3op.PaoStapivo a7tCTC. N& xp643oup.s -co0-ro Tb cpdic<br />
p31 pit; -th gripouve xt' a6T6 — 7to0 v6c, -c6 xpt4oupz ; stns.<br />
`0 .5,XXoc xot-cotiae °cat v6xta IOU. %UWE.<br />
Ka-c€131%av Eua-cdt, Toixo--coixo. Ex64)av<br />
7cpay -thy t'axto toug xat xouxouAthOlixay. Xetevtay.<br />
Movixa Tat -caty&pa tour p.axpt& 7c6-ce-7c6-cs tit& x6xxtvii AchttIrti.
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 67<br />
No thought of sleep anymore no thought of even turning on<br />
your o<strong>the</strong>r side.<br />
Many dry, dark steps — foreign steps in <strong>the</strong> street or <strong>the</strong> stairs<br />
around a piece of silence or a piece of ice or death — you<br />
didn't know—<br />
around something cold and round and indifferent. And a<br />
small ball<br />
here or <strong>the</strong>re changed place, always closed and total<br />
like quicksilver <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> broken <strong>the</strong>rmometer on <strong>the</strong> floor.<br />
Desolate villages, dried-up rivers in a ruthless dry summer.<br />
Bombed churches. A white wind whistled<br />
like <strong>the</strong> mad cantor who sang wild hymns in <strong>the</strong> shooting<br />
and <strong>the</strong> priest with <strong>the</strong> boots of <strong>the</strong> dead officer<br />
raised his cassock and jumped over <strong>the</strong> fence. On <strong>the</strong> walls<br />
<strong>the</strong> slogans were crossed out. Muffled cannon volleys far off,<br />
low on <strong>the</strong> horizon <strong>the</strong> silence of <strong>the</strong> lost war. A dead horse<br />
on <strong>the</strong> slope.<br />
The ice made <strong>the</strong> shoe stick to <strong>the</strong> stocking, <strong>the</strong> stocking to<br />
<strong>the</strong> leg.<br />
We'll return — <strong>the</strong>y said. Even without legs we'll return. The<br />
cornfields rustled weirdly as if <strong>the</strong>y were tearing <strong>the</strong> papers<br />
as if <strong>the</strong>y were tearing our flags with our patriotic songs. Two<br />
thin clouds<br />
hung over <strong>the</strong> mountain like two braids of garlic beside <strong>the</strong><br />
fireplace<br />
in a bombed house. Let's hide this light<br />
lest <strong>the</strong>y take it <strong>from</strong> us — where shall we hide it — he said.<br />
The o<strong>the</strong>r man gazed at his fingernails. It was growing dark.<br />
They came down close against <strong>the</strong> wall. They bent<br />
took <strong>the</strong>ir shadows and Covered <strong>the</strong>mselves. They vanished.<br />
Only <strong>the</strong>ir cigarettes, far off, sometimes a red glow.
68 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
AseCtiaocv to xcOvcce xce-cii371xav noTdcp.coe cptiyow xc' aka.<br />
`0 Oivoctog 7Ceryna-coOcse XeCOTG7i -:Ce xecpatega<br />
'Anavou nsailin 7e6p-coe too xaXoxacpcoci xouf3cleAceycev tour<br />
neOattivoug.<br />
Tee xtrnaplasta a-eyiplya atbv oOpowb aew ToUg 67eavaa-ceeteg arbv<br />
TOIXO.<br />
"Exacys OE secOdcps -racyydwciw<br />
y61.1.caav atp.a. Pygouv fj a. ET iyvtos Adean71.<br />
Aiyatts yca !IL& Sticrri nEaw an' to aitapa xat tour A6cpouc<br />
yeac xatva Tee atiyveyce 7G0p -coxccAtat not') Si a' acpiivouv va, TeAsethascg<br />
. sou<br />
)(co* vac ai fis(3atthaoov 7C x&-cc 8' areolisEvet. Aiyalts<br />
ye& -etc AEG xaT011 an' 'Cil 7:6-epee. Ti vac notipz -ethpa;<br />
Mc& xtv-tiail leovefexce pE -c6 CapAVO Xipc<br />
vac MEEK p.cac tcayaX71 p.6ya. -c6 xo6-csXo tou neOceplvou. MT);<br />
vee EstuAtEecg<br />
ixelv7) Th 7C ca tinpos-c& crebv 'Anpal scat atb<br />
67ecoG of yopoX6yoc e-cliXcyav alAoteg gym its-caZut6 XouXouSci-eo<br />
nowt<br />
pepoa-tee a-cde pa= TOY xopc-catiiiv; 2E005p:case, Tease,<br />
7:@; vac -e6 EstOgec; trrep6g a-cee p.itca na,c8c6w no5 Siv Ixouv<br />
4 0 111<br />
[I:repo:nee at& p&-tea twv vocvaScov rax) SE sooptive nap& p.6vo paOpee,<br />
paapee, p.ocOpa;<br />
Ila-e6so xouP6v-cc4ocv, poyeo0acev. "Axonav x.c6Xac -mug.<br />
yuvaixa Oyeas tb .noeicarac vric xat -c6 -efyaEs. TH-eav -epi57eco.<br />
`0 l'IX:oc gxeecya t axcee toO aivrpou at& Bp6tio -- o SpOttos ax14s.<br />
DepatcCinsq cpsiyoav TpSxobi, aill_coca65O -tiv nicp-eouV.<br />
•-cini axx ,y, p.spale -cp&xouv of &AA& niertouv. T6<br />
atm: -cp6xsc • -<br />
newoo atb )(than, a-c-i) Acia7c7) x&cou eta s Tb )(Gime. Meydaa<br />
no-cdepxot<br />
x6xxcva noteepcot xatefictivotw an' Tee f3ouvac eato0c VOXTOG.<br />
p.lcopsi; vet itelvscg gec) oks [Liam. MO vet 7.eag;
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 69<br />
The snow melted rivers rushed down <strong>the</strong>y left too.<br />
Death walked in <strong>the</strong> mud <strong>the</strong> wheelbarrows in <strong>the</strong> mud.<br />
On <strong>the</strong> fallen door of summer <strong>the</strong>y carried <strong>the</strong> dead.<br />
The cypress trees stood against <strong>the</strong> sky like rebels against <strong>the</strong><br />
wall.<br />
The sun burned. The guitars of <strong>the</strong> gypsies<br />
were filled with blood. They make no sound. Even <strong>the</strong> mud<br />
dried up.<br />
We spoke about a sunset behind <strong>the</strong> trees and <strong>the</strong> hills<br />
about those orange clouds that don't let you end your day<br />
without assuring you that something will remain. We spoke<br />
about <strong>the</strong> roots beneath <strong>the</strong> rock. What can we say now?<br />
A movement only with your desperate hand<br />
to chase away a big fly <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> dead man's forehead. How<br />
can you unfold that old voice in <strong>the</strong> presence of April and May<br />
just as <strong>the</strong> peddlers used to unfold a silk floral cloth<br />
before <strong>the</strong> girls' eyes? It has faded, it's gone,<br />
how can you unfold it before <strong>the</strong> eyes of <strong>the</strong> children who<br />
have no bread<br />
before <strong>the</strong> eyes of <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>rs who wear nothing else but black,<br />
black, black ?<br />
And yet <strong>the</strong>y talked, asked questions. They even listened to<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir voices.<br />
The woman took off her shoe and looked at it. It had holes.<br />
The sun burned <strong>the</strong> shadow of <strong>the</strong> tree in <strong>the</strong> street <strong>the</strong><br />
road steamed.<br />
Soldiers flee run aim fall.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs run aim fall. Blood runs<br />
on <strong>the</strong> snow through <strong>the</strong> mud into <strong>the</strong> earth. Big rivers<br />
red rivers rush down <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountains — you hear <strong>the</strong>m in<br />
<strong>the</strong> night.<br />
You can't stay outside or inside. Where can you go?
70 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
avoc4ii cpu-cpcbsc noA6 xop-capc 7,6%%cvoc XouXotiam tieyea%<br />
aocpwari.<br />
Tb xancoc Elva!, %Oxoccvo %c' accppec-co %avec ycat aecilveg xcci,<br />
Taoultdaccc.<br />
"Avepuncoc ItocTorn alt' -cec TcapecOupcc. Tt -cpixec;<br />
liecnocog axocXtsc p.,cac yAdca-cpcc gvoc Ithx%ocXo<br />
,iaTcpo %Oxxoclo %ccOipto — eca-cpicpTec a-thy 9.co.<br />
Tat mac& %dc0ouv-cacc crcb %cc-abcpXc. ScatliCouv. EuXXoyco5v-cect.<br />
Mtv ecvoqacg 7c6p-m. "Ac xtunist -c8 %ccAomctpc.<br />
Tb cperfecpc stva,c tb %pckyog -co0 reppavog cpccv-cipou.<br />
'Apacapthaou mcXac — paas xov-cpb atpotta6xocp-co at& TVcp.coc.<br />
111ovixa of vg%pot gxouv -c8 gAs150epo v8c xucaopopoGv crto5g<br />
Spdpoug — alcou TO Allot TOL);<br />
T& cp-ccoxec ncmoti-catoc 'mug Tco6 Aettlisav art' Try PpoA -cpcyupvthv<br />
-cocc<br />
CiptaxovTag Unvo 5soct -rip° ag -corm Tbv stacpb, itt 13ptaxov-cocg<br />
Alyo -c6rco Sc%6 -coug tuac tiacou%c& tircolit p,c8c ilcxpt<br />
MeriXoc 7cpof3oAsic ypovOoxonob tok -cotxoug, tPdcxvouv att.;<br />
ccöXcmcgc -caw o-Oyvecpcov<br />
rcupoP6Aoc pou0ou4ouv Tam ttecv-cpoc roCi -couf3XecSmou<br />
-cat alcuXcac axiiiouv -cb xciip.oc Tb ay.ap.p.ivo ete tour gAiloug %cct<br />
-cac<br />
'Ioacoc-A5youa-cog 1942
Y emnis <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 71<br />
In <strong>the</strong> spring sprout lots of grass big red brawny flowers.<br />
The earth is red and fluffy — it's good for pitchers and pots.<br />
People look out <strong>the</strong> windows. What's happening?<br />
Someone's digging a flowerpot with a bone<br />
— a white, pure bone — it glows in <strong>the</strong> sun.<br />
The children sit at <strong>the</strong> threshold. They don't read. They think.<br />
Don't open <strong>the</strong> door. Let <strong>the</strong> summer be knocking.<br />
The moon is <strong>the</strong> helmet of <strong>the</strong> German soldier.<br />
Bar yourself well — put thick paper on <strong>the</strong> windowpanes.<br />
Only <strong>the</strong> dead are free to circulate in <strong>the</strong> streets — listen to<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir steps<br />
in <strong>the</strong>ir shabby worn-out shoes wandering in <strong>the</strong> rain<br />
without finding sleep or a grave <strong>the</strong>se days, without finding<br />
a bit of land of <strong>the</strong>ir own a bit of bread a tiny memory.<br />
Big searchlights punch <strong>the</strong> walls, search <strong>the</strong> grooves of <strong>the</strong><br />
clouds<br />
firearms snort behind <strong>the</strong> stone wall of <strong>the</strong> brick factory<br />
<strong>the</strong> dogs dig <strong>the</strong> earth dug up by mortars and graves.<br />
A<strong>the</strong>ns, July-August 1942
72 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
FYNA I KEE<br />
Mac gzolb tomptvig of yuvoirxec. Tac sev.r6vm tour tiugouv •wx-<br />
Avotixta,.<br />
'AxoupicOlve tb atb Tpazc ycat vac, IA vcthaouils nos Xetnouv.<br />
TOte xa.-ccact6a6voups ccb cpt txtati.e. /rot wybilocate due zotpixAoc<br />
xai Aip.s:<br />
lioupdcatv]xec noAU att,spa», ace, 0' ckvaulnu &yet) Advict>>.<br />
" OTCGV avdcf3outte tb ardp-co, ixetvyl =p&p& acpyac ltvlyocivoymg<br />
inacv TcpoaliAwavi 7cpbg xouV,voc. 7cXcivri<br />
StVCCI. bat, Taxpap,ivo PouvotAixt cpoptto[tivo 7CoAXok vexpobg —<br />
tobc vexpobc vric cpcallatoK, to Stitok ty6 vaxpobc sto&l, Tbv St.x6 aou.<br />
'Axons tb figlita trig vat TptCet az& 7taXLaG accv68coc<br />
aosofig ta, 7G (ATM va XXOCEVS atilv Tccott oOlfix.71 x' iiatepoc axoUys-cat.<br />
tb Tpaivo nob itodpvet robs cpamapouc v.& tb ttivOTCO.<br />
1946-1947
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 73<br />
WOMEN<br />
Women are very distant. Their sheets smell of goodnight.<br />
They put bread on <strong>the</strong> table so that we won't notice <strong>the</strong>y're<br />
missing.<br />
Then we realize we're wrong. We get up <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> chair and say:<br />
"You were very tired today," or "here, I'll light <strong>the</strong> lamp."<br />
When we light <strong>the</strong> match, she turns gently, going<br />
toward <strong>the</strong> kitchen with an inexplicable devotion. Her back<br />
is a sad little mountain loaded with many dead —<br />
<strong>the</strong> family dead, her own dead and your own.<br />
You hear her footsteps creaking on <strong>the</strong> old planks<br />
you hear , <strong>the</strong> dishes crying in <strong>the</strong> cupboard and <strong>the</strong>n<br />
<strong>the</strong> train is heard taking <strong>the</strong> soldiers to <strong>the</strong> front lines.<br />
1946-1947
74 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
ArlOrEYMA<br />
Tb cindyeupa atvaa 610 neattivous aou(3dass, tmopss niTP8G, EPar 4<br />
atractOca.<br />
Tb anOysupa Ixst Iva B5axoAo xiAtta ecnb TGGata PiltIOVCCC nob<br />
tteivav a c j gar)<br />
anb =a t& ne0ipta Oap.p.iva arliv ma naves cot; fj 5toi5pacm<br />
%at Tb xoptipc.<br />
Bub axo-avivoc, nirce axottottivoL, 86Sexa, — nOsot aat nbaoc.<br />
KaOs wpm gXEI, T6 axottottivo Trjs. "Hato in' napiOupa<br />
ac&xouv ainot nob Aeinouv xat nb a-cap.vt vapb nob 'kCEAV.<br />
Kt' mkt) tib eccs-c6pt nob ETLECSS atilv axprl TiriG ficiaBLag<br />
stvat aav -rb xotmlivo mint nob Siv axotier, rac TgOvcct<br />
nob Siv axotiet Ttg acxacoAoyfeG vag — xxsexaexeTat<br />
v' aaoticset Tex, IpayotiSta !lag — tiovdtxo, p.ovaxo,<br />
povixo, ecnostop.tiivo, aci.cpopo zataafxri '71 rat SocalwaY).<br />
1946-1947
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 75<br />
AFTERNOON<br />
The afternoon is all fallen plaster, black stones, dried thorns.<br />
The afternoon has a difficult color made of old footsteps left<br />
halfway<br />
made of old buried jugs in <strong>the</strong> yard, and on <strong>the</strong>m tiredness<br />
and grass.<br />
Two dead men, five dead men, twelve — how many, how many.<br />
Each hour has its dead. Behind <strong>the</strong> windows<br />
stand those missing and <strong>the</strong> pitcher with <strong>the</strong> water <strong>the</strong>y didn't<br />
drink.<br />
And that star that fell at <strong>the</strong> edge of <strong>the</strong> night<br />
is like <strong>the</strong> cut off ear that doesn't hear <strong>the</strong> crickets<br />
that doesn't hear our excuses — doesn't deign<br />
to hear our songs — alone, alone,<br />
alone, cut off, indifferent to condemnation or justification.<br />
1946-1947
76 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
'Eva; ..A•coc dcnb i€-cps -cc4lascPs nAdcc<br />
xatyov-cac -c6v & yip& xoct dcyx&Occc T11; iplip.cdc.<br />
T' an6yet.ta atticOvcs atily otiyca. virig O&AccaaccG<br />
aacv xi-cpcyog yX6ttnoc a' gvcc p,ey&Ao Becaog<br />
sixactle xcup6 yvic xi-cc ti-coccc goo vavacc,<br />
plxvmp.s ?COG vat scot) xactm.Lc& lloc-ct& — xc anivou =lc xouPiptec<br />
ttoct -a; AccStig, -c6 xtinict, Ta. Atoxolixowcacc,<br />
dxctve p.stvEc x&-cc qoUXXoc ire tit; E-cc&c x&-cc 7LEuxoPsA6veg.<br />
Eixocv xc cci'ycac lib pipo g 'tout' — 'Oxc anouaccia np&I.coc-ca<br />
axt& gv65 Stxpavou itdcv•zpcc, ripyac xcc-c& lib Ac6-yep[Lcc,<br />
lib ngpccapnc Too etx6you -c& pzac:cvux-coc,<br />
gYa -CPLaYCMSQUAA6VL° XP6M-LM 1tG5 neeccIvEL at6 vsP6<br />
&cptiov-ca; ntaco TOD attOTHI 17C6 ILOYari,<br />
tia cpOAAcc tiou cpey yocpco0 necritivcc ivalceacc acts xcaccp,ciq xat crag<br />
ecypt6nantsg.<br />
Aiy gxoutis xacp6 a&v gxoup.s,<br />
8-cav of n6p-cec Ttvov-cac aucupollivoc )(Apt&<br />
6-cav 6 Sp6p.og ylve-coct a&v ixetvoy 7S06 Aisc «Siv Ttno-cco.<br />
`QaT6cro glteiG -c6 'rceog nip& crc6 p,sidcAo aTccupoSp6p.c<br />
irvac tic& 7CoXt -cefcc tti xcXtdcaeg noAUxpw[toc cp65-ca,<br />
avOpomot xacpeTcoriv-cocc axel 116 [Lc& xtv-rIcs71 tiOvo rob 1.1,8-ukcou<br />
ywucgouve an' crsiali Troy xepceov,<br />
apt' Tbv .-cp6gto no6 %66ouv -s6 4)(0111,<br />
an' T6v ?axto roux nivco aT6 tpaniCc -cop BeInvou,<br />
rev tspa no6 vuatgouv OXEc of opcovg; cr& v&-cca, Too;<br />
xt gvcc vovixo dca-cipt atccupthvec rb npoaxicpccX6 -mug.<br />
To rcoptCou/le an' -cif] xocpocxt& trot) krthvoc dtvecileaoc at& cppUSca,<br />
xat nc6Tepo an' 6Aoc---c&f3p&Stoc, noU tisyccAthvec 6 oUpocv6g 6C7CaVOU<br />
-cot.); yvw4outte an6 IcEtwri trycatt6v7i auvw,o-cocil -coug xtv-qa-ri<br />
xxecbc ptxvouv -Hp; xocpaci -mug a&v napacvopi Tcpowiipul<br />
xet-co) an' -cliv %Amstar/1 n6p-coc -cot) x6stiou.<br />
1949<br />
PAC
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 77<br />
RECOGNITION<br />
A stone sun traveled beside us<br />
burning <strong>the</strong> wind and <strong>the</strong> thorns of <strong>the</strong> wilderness.<br />
The afternoon stood at <strong>the</strong> edge of <strong>the</strong> sea<br />
like a yellow lightbulb in a big forest of memory.<br />
We had no time for such things — but, in any case,<br />
sometimes we cast a glance — and on our blankets<br />
along with <strong>the</strong> spots, <strong>the</strong> dirt, <strong>the</strong> olive pits,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re were some leaves left <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> willows, some pine needles.<br />
They had <strong>the</strong>ir weight too — not very much —<br />
<strong>the</strong> shadow of a pitchfork on <strong>the</strong> stone wall, late at sunset,<br />
<strong>the</strong> passing of <strong>the</strong> horse at midnight,<br />
a rose color dying on <strong>the</strong> water<br />
leaving silence behind even lonelier,<br />
<strong>the</strong> moon's leaves fallen amid <strong>the</strong> reeds and wild ducks.<br />
We don't have time — we don't,<br />
when <strong>the</strong> doors become like folded hands<br />
when <strong>the</strong> road becomes like <strong>the</strong> man who says "I know<br />
nothing."<br />
Yet we knew that far off at <strong>the</strong> big crossroads<br />
<strong>the</strong>re's a city with thousands of multicolored lights,<br />
men greet each o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re with only a movement of <strong>the</strong><br />
forehead —<br />
we know <strong>the</strong>m <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> position of <strong>the</strong>ir hands,<br />
<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y cut <strong>the</strong> bread,<br />
<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir shadow on <strong>the</strong> dinner table,<br />
<strong>the</strong> hour when all <strong>the</strong> voices are drowsy<br />
and a big star marks <strong>the</strong>ir pillows with a cross.<br />
We know <strong>the</strong>m <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> struggle's furrow between <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
eyebrows<br />
and above all — in <strong>the</strong> nights, when <strong>the</strong> sky grows larger above<br />
<strong>the</strong>m—<br />
we recognize <strong>the</strong>m <strong>from</strong> that conspiratorial movement<br />
as <strong>the</strong>y throw <strong>the</strong>ir hearts like an illegal proclamation<br />
under <strong>the</strong> closed door of <strong>the</strong> world,<br />
1949
78<br />
01 PIZEI TOY KOZMOY<br />
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
Atya xatimAtaapiva axotva 'cog xcaoxacpcog.<br />
Alyec ciacpixcec, tib Ovp.ipL, 9p-cip73•<br />
Atcgcrap.s noXti.<br />
IIoAv Tretvdcacctie.<br />
lloA5 novicsaile.<br />
[lay Tb ittateticeile Tco-ci<br />
vbcct Tbao axAripot of iy0p07cot.<br />
Lib tb 7CtCYCE15VE TCOS&<br />
vka I6crti ivtori) xcx,p3t4 itcq.<br />
M' Eva xop.p.ciTt. Ociva-co acv tain71 p.ag— et,otiptcrcoc.<br />
1105 'vat Eva crcixo vac Auriet, aTby obpavb tb ydvac6 °MU ;<br />
BpaStricat etpyi. axtA S v xptiPec axA,71p6T77ecc niTpac.<br />
Tb nayolfqx. To5 vexpo0 xtop,ivo avipo &m.o.<br />
Tb cpsyript eyrzyp.6vo a' gy) &AAo yccab<br />
vac .tb xuAOcet, ycaAvyi p.b tb twx,p6 3ixtuAo<br />
ai 'Troth yccad; TCOVIt yccXAv71;<br />
Accixicaocps TcoXIS,<br />
SouAetiovcag OX77pept; rip+ rci-cprz.<br />
lici-cou in s61cla p.m;<br />
etyac of gec 'sou %balm).<br />
1949
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 79<br />
THE ROOTS OF THE WORLD<br />
Some parched boxwood shrubs in <strong>the</strong> summer's armpit,<br />
some sage, thyme, fern.<br />
We were very thirsty.<br />
We were very hungry.<br />
We suffered a lot.<br />
We would never have believed<br />
that men would be so cruel.<br />
We would never have believed<br />
that our hearts had such fortitude.<br />
With a piece of death in our pockets — unshaven.<br />
Where is <strong>the</strong>re a stalk of wheat to bend its knee to <strong>the</strong> sky?<br />
It grows dark late. The shadow doesn't hide <strong>the</strong> stone's<br />
hardness.<br />
The dead man's canteen buried in <strong>the</strong> sand.<br />
The moon moored at ano<strong>the</strong>r beach<br />
while <strong>the</strong> stillness rolls it along with its little finger —<br />
on which sea? Which stillness?<br />
We were very thirsty,<br />
working <strong>the</strong> stone all day long.<br />
Beneath our thirst<br />
are <strong>the</strong> roots of <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
1949
80<br />
01 FEITON1 EX TOY KOXMOY<br />
JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
ToOto tb maoxitpc, caw zit napac p.dic p0s Oup.toplyo.<br />
That, pap') tb aixxl 100 ijAcou arily nkrlytaapayri<br />
Kt of =plug pia' an' to cpaAa Belxvouv apLwaysc Ttc ypoOLiG tour.<br />
[lay apecc %at tf plilYCL; EIVO4C.<br />
Kayiyac Say Sproas cpitoG, mcyivocc Say Eanetpe.<br />
Aay Wet; xrxt tf xitpa xiyst.<br />
Tb xcaostocipE gxst xiosE tb Spatto TOU ayitteacc crcoac axo-ctoilayous<br />
x,E, of sE7coxiq %aeon= apDarce; atb potiPapacatavo Siaoc.<br />
"Eva iatoxtrirco ayocx-cb cnby nponya SpOp.o.<br />
Koufkaist aray TCOXrce (cc xcEaOloccE acpcapic.<br />
'Ea.cp4i. Xievse atb axoycap.iyo "Oxt, Say tipecc...<br />
OE yectoytic Oop.o0y.cat. Of yutovtic<br />
Si 00..ouy Exiaouy. Tac xopip.ccca<br />
of alloPpovTle; atb Z%0TCaurpto. TI ytix-ca<br />
Ta, cparca Tv') XcaSocpc,o0. 11 coax.aucrri.<br />
Tb cptAt ettay ILL xpb zit thccousta.<br />
"ratepa iticpTaye to xapti atb Tait.<br />
Mc& 7ccaroXti atb SpOp.o. 11 Yarcct. Kt tpixiAct.<br />
vorm. Kt, zapaci nob XTUTCOLEG Suyavca<br />
aTcwc xtunizt ypoOta niyou atb -cpcuegL.<br />
"icrcepa niAL acyccLi. Moyixi<br />
to Sexavfxca, tou opeyyarno5 atb TcsoSpallto<br />
xt, Eva xipt icon acptyyst tip tic stapbacq<br />
5c,L Eva xipt, to XocS(byst tb ncatb neptatpocpo<br />
xt gym xipt 7cob pif3it p.cac =Tali<br />
xc Eva xdpt nob acptyyst gym aAXo xapc<br />
xcct, T' &wet= nob SeCxyouy to aptypiya taus Sayvi,<br />
-rby Iturna aTccupb nob aysp4sc arty 'Astp67toX71,<br />
.iyetioc nob apAsc Tat ileoiyura.<br />
"A, ITO; cpuaist ko5toc b ayetwc. 86Xat vac atoniast.<br />
'Ayocymadyet, tic napTec. XTurciat Ta, nawrCoapta.<br />
'AyattcaLiCit Tic auyotx/eG. Biclay1C& Tic imippec poricstac T6iy p,acyiScoy.
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 81<br />
<strong>from</strong> THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE WORLD<br />
This summer, like last year's, came to us angry.<br />
The sun's bag is heavy on <strong>the</strong> wounded back.<br />
And <strong>from</strong> behind <strong>the</strong> leaves <strong>the</strong> fruits show <strong>the</strong>ir denched fists.<br />
You don't even know which month it is.<br />
No one ploughed this year, no one sowed.<br />
You don't even know how <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r is.<br />
Summer has lost its way amid <strong>the</strong> dead<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Seasons sit speechless in <strong>the</strong> bombed forest.<br />
An open car in <strong>the</strong> morning road.<br />
It carries into <strong>the</strong> city cases with bullets.<br />
It turned. Vanished in <strong>the</strong> dusty light. No, you don't know<br />
The neighborhoods remember. The neighborhoods<br />
do not want to forget. At daybreak<br />
<strong>the</strong> salvos at Skopeftirio. At night<br />
<strong>the</strong> lights at Haidari. The blackout.<br />
The kiss was bitter and hasty.<br />
Then <strong>the</strong> hands fell to <strong>the</strong> side.<br />
A pistol shot in <strong>the</strong> street. The night. And <strong>the</strong> fleeing.<br />
The night. And <strong>the</strong> heart pounding strongly<br />
just as a fist pounds on <strong>the</strong> table.<br />
Then silence again. Only<br />
<strong>the</strong> moon's crutches on <strong>the</strong> sidewalk<br />
and a hand clasping <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong> chair<br />
and a hand oiling <strong>the</strong> old revolver<br />
and a hand sewing a flag<br />
and a hand clasping ano<strong>the</strong>r hand<br />
and <strong>the</strong> stars showing <strong>the</strong>ir clenched teeth<br />
over <strong>the</strong> swastika fluttering on <strong>the</strong> Acropolis,<br />
and <strong>the</strong> wind starting at midnight.<br />
Ah, how this wind blows. It doesn't want to stop.<br />
Closes and opens <strong>the</strong> doors. Pounds at <strong>the</strong> shutters.<br />
Dishevels <strong>the</strong> neighborhoods. Torments <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>rs' black<br />
skirts.
82 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
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<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 83<br />
Ah, this wind does not want to stop.<br />
It blows, blows, blows,<br />
stirs up <strong>the</strong> voices and pages of History,<br />
strips up <strong>the</strong> sparks <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> fires of <strong>the</strong> world,<br />
shakes violently a big forest of hopes,<br />
tears <strong>the</strong> flags of <strong>the</strong> Ministries,<br />
for a moment stops to tie its shoelaces behind <strong>the</strong> singed stone wall<br />
and flees, flees. For years now<br />
and it hasn't stopped yet. Strides over<br />
<strong>the</strong> windows of <strong>the</strong> burned houses.<br />
Wears <strong>the</strong> boots of <strong>the</strong> dead.<br />
Its footsteps are heard on <strong>the</strong> asphalt,<br />
are heard on <strong>the</strong> bare plain sown with bones,<br />
are heard on <strong>the</strong> high mountain with <strong>the</strong> skulls and <strong>the</strong> crows,<br />
are heard in <strong>the</strong> trenches and <strong>the</strong> night camps,<br />
and when <strong>the</strong> bugles at <strong>the</strong> camps sound taps<br />
<strong>the</strong> footsteps are heard even clearer.<br />
This way <strong>the</strong> tanks — this way, this way. 'What does he point at<br />
with that outstretched finger — policeman #44 —<br />
ordering death with <strong>the</strong> boots — ordering death<br />
outside A<strong>the</strong>ns, outside Greece, outside <strong>the</strong> world —<br />
what does that outstretched finger point at high up?<br />
The lowering of <strong>the</strong> swastika on <strong>the</strong> Acropolis,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re's <strong>the</strong> Greek flag hoisted<br />
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah.<br />
Freedom or death<br />
freedom or death — <strong>the</strong> people<br />
in <strong>the</strong> open cars shouting — and <strong>the</strong> leaflets<br />
and <strong>the</strong> people chasing <strong>the</strong> leaflets and shouting hurrah<br />
stumbling over <strong>the</strong> tanks and shouting hurrah<br />
hurrah, hurrah, hurrah,<br />
freedom or death, freedom or death — <strong>the</strong> people<br />
in <strong>the</strong> open cars shouting<br />
freedom or death, freedom or death<br />
<strong>the</strong> people who fought and fell<br />
who fell and smiled<br />
who kissed <strong>the</strong> people and smiled<br />
who pulled <strong>the</strong> wedged bullet out of <strong>the</strong>ir chests with <strong>the</strong>ir fingers<br />
and came back among us and fought<br />
and fought and smiled.
84 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
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<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 85<br />
Freedom or Death, Freedom or Death, Freedom or Death<br />
this wind shouting with all its lungs<br />
and Thea Kali with <strong>the</strong> megaphone in <strong>the</strong> convertible with o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
neighborhood women<br />
Thea Kali shouting with a megaphone: "Vangeli, Vangeli, Vangeli,<br />
today your mo<strong>the</strong>r sees <strong>the</strong> whole world Vangeli"<br />
Thea Kali without her black scarf<br />
and Kyra Leni beside her fluttering her two hands like two big doves<br />
Kyra Leni amid her three children,<br />
Kyra Leni smiling again amid <strong>the</strong> people<br />
on October 12, 1944.*<br />
It was cold. December was drawing near, you see. We hastened<br />
We had to ga<strong>the</strong>r data. To complete <strong>the</strong> lists of our martyrs<br />
we had to make <strong>the</strong> new bases for <strong>the</strong> organization.<br />
We had to write our songs. We didn't have time <strong>the</strong>n.<br />
How could one catch up ? What could one catch up with first?<br />
In <strong>the</strong> nights<br />
when <strong>the</strong> stores' shutters are lowered over <strong>the</strong> show windows<br />
with <strong>the</strong> tired lights<br />
just as iron nets are lowered into mythical depths — in <strong>the</strong> nights<br />
lots of traffic is noticed <strong>from</strong> English jeeps<br />
lots of traffic by some big, closed, silent cars.<br />
The bars lit up, English soldiers<br />
drink beer, appear at <strong>the</strong> doors<br />
in <strong>the</strong> lighted squares one sees <strong>the</strong>m throwing up<br />
<strong>the</strong>y come out on <strong>the</strong> sidewalks and piss. These soldiers, here,<br />
as if <strong>the</strong>y were, <strong>the</strong>y say, at home. What home of <strong>the</strong>irs?<br />
These soldiers reel, drunken, stumble, shout, sing<br />
as if <strong>the</strong>y had pebbles on <strong>the</strong>ir tongues. What are <strong>the</strong>y singing for?<br />
Ah, this wind does not want to stop,<br />
it blows, blows, blows,<br />
shakes <strong>the</strong> hearts and <strong>the</strong> flags<br />
brings down <strong>the</strong> tiles of sleep<br />
its hammering echoes in <strong>the</strong> night —<br />
it nails a huge coffin,<br />
it makes a cradle <strong>the</strong> wind, <strong>the</strong> wind<br />
beat after beat. How long will <strong>the</strong>y crucify <strong>the</strong> light on <strong>the</strong> doors?<br />
How long will you be able to remain silent? How far will <strong>the</strong><br />
knife reach?<br />
* The date on which A<strong>the</strong>ns was liberated <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Germans.
86 JOURNAL OF THE HELLENIC DIASPORA<br />
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MaxpOvvjaoc, "All-E-cpecTrig, 1949-1951
<strong>Yannis</strong> <strong>Ritsos</strong>: A <strong>Selection</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Forties</strong> 87<br />
You try to take <strong>the</strong> trowel to patch <strong>the</strong> bullet wounds<br />
and <strong>the</strong>y take both <strong>the</strong> trowel and <strong>the</strong> hand <strong>from</strong> you,<br />
you try to sow a handful of grain in <strong>the</strong> mutilated field<br />
<strong>the</strong>y take <strong>from</strong> you both <strong>the</strong> field and <strong>the</strong> grain,<br />
you try to smile at <strong>the</strong> sunset<br />
<strong>the</strong>y take <strong>from</strong> you both <strong>the</strong> sun and your face. Where can<br />
you moor?<br />
They steal <strong>from</strong> you <strong>the</strong> smile, <strong>the</strong>y steal even your tears. 'Where<br />
will love stay?<br />
A bayonet gleams in front of <strong>the</strong> bread<br />
a bayonet pierces <strong>the</strong> child in <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r's belly. Let us<br />
let us join our hands,<br />
let this wind dry our eyes.<br />
Our children sleep under <strong>the</strong> mountains,<br />
— let us weep for our children,<br />
let <strong>the</strong>m hear <strong>the</strong> crackling of <strong>the</strong> seeds — that's why <strong>the</strong>y fell<br />
so that bread won't be missing <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> table,<br />
so that <strong>the</strong> root of <strong>the</strong> smile will not die in our hearts. This wind<br />
keeps <strong>the</strong>ir blood and <strong>the</strong>ir voice. Let us.<br />
This wind is big<br />
it is huge this wind<br />
it is joyful, joyful, joyful,<br />
knocks down <strong>the</strong> walls raised between <strong>the</strong> peoples<br />
knocks down <strong>the</strong> walls of death<br />
knocks down <strong>the</strong> walls between <strong>the</strong> mind and <strong>the</strong> heart<br />
<strong>the</strong> walls between you and me<br />
and opens wide over <strong>the</strong> one world, <strong>the</strong> sun's window.<br />
Listen how this wind whistles<br />
in <strong>the</strong> bloodstained neighborhoods of <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Makronisos, Ai-Stratis, 1949-1951<br />
translated <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Greek by Athan Anagnostopoulos