Yórgos Véïs
From: Geography of Dangers (1994)
Birthday Poem
a stick in the sea's eye.
Fog and gulls in the open sea
oil-lanterns on the shore
on the rocks dead pilots will be gathering their compasses,
bits of smashed rudders, broken-up instruments
— smell of burnt weed.
I fathom my face
it will break free soon from the depths
and rise full of sea-weed, gold-froth,
lips cloven to find you
words turned to coral pierce the cheeks
the forehead all flayed
but you will read it right in the morning light
the years show clearly, the signs
the wounds of the Harpies
red buoys, subdued glassy waves
the ocean a hint of blessing
the body knows how to survive the storms
to regain itself in the midst of nature
it wants its dreams back
all that it lost to difficult times.
I fathom my face
it rises full of the stars of the deep
to set its seal on your own.
Translated by Simon Darragh
Page(s) 134
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