Pain by Maria Polydouri

Pain… Pain… No longer enough are the tears

and the sigh; it's not enough, it does not escape.

Like a bird flies out the thought insane

and beats its wings and smashes them.

Blood is the sweat of agony. The temples

have been painted in tragic blooms.

Like poison in the veins scurry

the secrets of a possible life.

The iron wheel of martyrdom

is taking its last spin.

Knowledge stands aside in defeat.

And love inconsolably weeps.

Translated from Greek.

The image was taken from here.

 

The Love of the Poet by Maria Polydouri

You saw me in your path, oh Poet.

I was the first flower of April.

The thirst of the love that seeks

kept aflame your thoughts and lips.

I was the first flower. My fountain

of reflections was locked, my heart

only, innocent and adored, could talk

when that first gaze you've sent my way.

In time, your lust for me you dared

get close to admit. Alas,

we were the children of our epoch. Our heart

would love with a passion that sought

to take, we felt that in a hideous way

and our gazes have drifted apart.

The image taken from here.

 

Autumn Prayer by Maria Polydouri

When the silence over my garden

will widely spread at night, rainy

a cloud in the sky it will pave

on a black dome over it divine.

In the secret darkness the trees, the shrubbery,

slowly the head will bow

and they'll chant together reverently

their last prayer of sorrow.

Come and we for one last time

our prayer will say. It will be heard

our voice in the silence passionate,

the dome will resound and break,

the cloud will weep, we along will cry,

the chant of the trees will pursue

in sadness our silent cry

and the darkness will thicken like doom.

Not a star's a glimmer will shine,

destiny's face we will not see,

and while our hands it will bind

our lips the prayer will speak.

Translated from Greek by yours truly.

Image taken from here.

 

Rain by Miltiades Malakasis

Rain outside the window is falling

black are the roofs, dark are the roads,

out of the eyes no tears are crawling,

which a heavy notion is drowning.

The clouds windswept as they

are quietly groan and cry,

my soul they do not enslave,

with all the secrets they recite.

Once inside the window

as you sat by my side,

I'd see in your sleepy gaze

the road's sorrowful rain.

And I'd see, further still,

again in your eyes,

the clouds that to the skies

the storm violently carried.

Rain outside the window is falling

black are the roofs, dark are the roads,

out of the eyes no tears are crawling,

which a heavy notion is drowning.

Now the clouds hanging above,

and then drifting below and rain,

in your eyes are mirrored no more,

and no other secret yearnings they have…

Translated from Greek by yours truly.

The image was taken taken from here.

 

I Love You by Myrtiotissa

I love you, I cannot

anything else say,

as deep, as simple,

as great!

Here in front of your feet

with longing I lie

the many-leafed flower

of my life.

My two hands, behold

offered to you in a knot

to sweetly lean

your head on.

And my heart yearns

and full of jealousy calls

to be for you as they are

a cushion.

Oh my hive, from him

you should drink

the pure scents

of my soul!

I love you, what else can

my precious tell you,

as deep, as simple

as great?

I translated this from Greek. One of the most popular love poems of all time.