Poem by Odysseus Elytis
SONG HEROIC AND ELEGIAC FOR THE LOST SECOND LEUTENANT
OF THE ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN
A
There where the sun used to dwell
where time was opening with the eyes of a virgin
as the wind was snowing from the nudging almond tree
and horse riders were lit on the peaks of grass
there where the hoof of a splendid maple tree struck
and high up a flag flapped earth and water
where weapons never burdened backs
but all the tiredness of the sky
the whole world shone like a drop of water
in the morning, by the feet of the mountain
now, as if from God’s sigh a shadow spreads
now the stooping agony with bony hands
takes and wipes on itself one by one the flowers
waters stop in the ravines
where in the famine of joy the songs recline
Monks of rocks with cold hair
silently break the bread of desolation.
Winter cuts up to the bone. Something evil
will be ignited. The horse-mountain’s hair goes wild.
Up high vultures share the sky’s crumbs.
Libros Libertad 