Hephaestus
Hephaestus laughed at my demand
for a new armour as
I reverted into my inheritance
subject of a former sound
another era’s reward
I the indisputable heir
of the Aegean Sea
truly nothing else
was as abstract
as the lips of the virgin which
I kissed under the sun’s guidance
when without warning
spring arrived as pure as
the indiscreet announcement
of deeds I was destined
to accomplish:
a cross to hang
around my neck
the lone sea anemone to lean on
and catching the meaning of duty
I had to be worthy of:
sea urchins
with spikes,
rose bushes
by the main entrance of my dwelling
beloved words spoken
by lips cracked and aged like
the lemon tree I never watered
tears on my pillow which
I held tightly
in my arms hoping
to wake up like a laughter of sunshine
in the cows’ watering trough