Long Listed for the Griffin Poetry Awards 2023
DEVIL WITH A CANDLESTICK
6
So many things and truly no one sees them; how can
you endure them alone?
The dream or the self-denial, sacrifice or pity, like the poor
relatives you let steal from you so you can feel richer
yet why so much struggle, Lord, to gain such tiny reward
as small as a piece of a rail line
during the Day of Judgment; those two in the basement
didn’t have money to pay the lawyers
and rats were eating their shoes. Absurd things like the
eyelids of the blind or as we still insist, and you, Martha,
please love me, I’m desolate, almost rude in my old age
don’t mind me as I don’t stand up when you come in
but I avoid all peaceful gestures
and my brother is at the old people’s home where
the grey clouds pass;
just a moment to put my hat on and I’ll divorce you,
Martha,
where the grey clouds pass and the old times violin
isn’t heard anymore
“no, not yet, don’t wake me up” I yelled as my head
was falling in the basket
along with the coffee grinder.
Mayanaam
vequinox
Manolis 