Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The Shadows of Birds: 39-40

Yannis Ritsos

39.
He laid his hand
on his knee
close to the river
a large strong
hand
the river flows
filled with eels.


40.
Something large
causes us to be quiet
something nearly unallowable
won't look us in the eye
a little derision on its lips
a little bitterness
it's May
and the street is full of
itinerant fruit sellers
and paper boys.

Athens—May 13, 1980

from The Shadows of Birds (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 360-361]

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