George Seferis – Collected Poems

Pantoum
The stars hold a world of their own
ships carry fires over the pelagos
my soul, bitter inflamed though you pray devoutly
redeem yourself from the link of darkness.
Ships carry fires over the pelagos
the night narrows and stays as a stranger
my soul, bitter inflamed though you pray devoutly
you know the law that binds you.
The night narrows and stays as a stranger
the lights have gone out on the black silk
my soul, you know the law that binds you and
what will remain with you what it will leave you.
The lights have gone out on the black silk
only the sistrum of time is heard and
what will remain with you, what will leave you
if by chance the silent embrasure explodes.
Only the sistrum of time is heard
metallic column at the end of pain
if by chance the silent embrasure explodes
you won’t find a dream to shed a tear.
Metallic column at the edge of pain
the moment rises like an overhanging blade
you won’t find a dream to shed a tear
in your fleshless multitude that constricts like a snake.
The moment rises like an overhanging blade
what makes serenity wait and delays its coming?
In your fleshless multitude that constricts like a snake
there is neither heaven nor angelic delight.
What makes serenity wait and delays its coming?
Among solitaire people who count their sorrow
there is neither heaven nor angelic delight
the stars hold a world of their own.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096TTS37J

Tasos Livaditis – Poems, Volume II

Long Listed for the 2023 Griffin Poetry Awards

https://griffinpoetryprize.com/press/2023-longlist-announcement/

A group of girls laugh
seeing the unbuttoned undergarment of a drunk man
the little girl keeps her lullaby
nani, nani
however the crutch doesn’t fall asleep
it remembers the war
it blows
Pitch black faces, some made of cement
big strong jaws familiar with the lack of chewing
eyes that cut sharper than bayonets
their hands ready to save the world
and to the ages of ages amen
A little quieter, then,
a little quieter
you may wake up the dead
we may wake up
it blows on the discarded and the naked
Someone falls;
who is he? Who is he?
two cops run
nothing, nothing
an unemployed man
fainted
it blows
perhaps he died
hallelujah
crossroads like big crosses leaning
on the ground
the bayonets shine
all human futility
informers
faces that have turned blue
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763564

Orange

Picture
All night long, sleepless,
you promised to take
his picture off
your night-table
to place it in your chest
away from your tears
yet you hold it close to
your heart as though asking
for his approval before you let go
of his image, enough said
to your mind by his presence
memory’s endless anguish and
loneliness you hope to let go
though his picture remains
tightly in your grip as if he waits
for the story you’ll tell him of
your grandchildren who came
to visit last weekend

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763750