Dimitra Galani

It’s dusk all over and the night
is unfolding deep darkness around
a girl, a stranger, is wandering
as a shadow, alone on earth.

Without a shame, she is seeking
the sun that is already gone,
in the dark, trying to find him.

She may have been allured
by seashores and sunsets
which may keep the poor heart
for ever as a slave.

She may even – who knows –
have lost her mind after all
and then who’ll care to ask
and ever find out why.

Μπορεί ακόμα μπορεί,
να έχει πια τρελαθεί
και τότε ποιος θα ρωτήσει
να μάθει ποτέ το γιατί

Sand of winter
with all the gray it carries in its embrace
Horizontal picture
perpendicular I am, I judge and take a long time in the work
One time on a rock
the seagulls of the world awaited, white
As much as you gave me I have it
magnified from life some

On the clocks of the judges
the minute hands point at the first place
But from the human words
if you have night or dawn in your heart

Sand of winter with all the clouds in its embrace

Sand like an armchair
abandoned, with its back to the land
The silence legion
with the sureness of a rower
The big ships
tie the ladder to their white sides
I don’t miss the caresses
I miss the thing I drowned to find it

On the clocks of the judges
the minute hands show alive
that human words
do not meet between us anywhere

Sand of winter with all the clouds in its embrace

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Αμμουδιά του χειμώνα μ’ όλα τα σύννεφα αγκαλιά

Sun, sun, king of mine
do not leave me today
it’s cloudy in my heart
there are iron chains on my body

Bloodied boy, wild beasts have gotten hold of you
at day break they took you and crucified you

Sun, sun, king of mine
tell me, what are you jealous of me for ?
you brought light to my heart for just one moment,
and then, you set like the sun

Bloodied boy, wild beasts have gotten hold of you
at day break they took you and crucified you

(*hasapiko is a dance form, literally the “butcher’s” dance)

Αγόρι ματωμένο θεριά σε ζώσανε
χαράματα σε πήραν και σε σταυρώσανε

Once in a while the living
stand in the doors, orphaned
a distant storm breaks out
“Sabachthani”* it means.

And from Paradise’s light
he returns, the brother of Cain
and says that bitterness’s blossom
on earth alone is blooming.

But you, who live for ever
two teardrops give me in celebration
for me to drink here in the dark
for I am thirsty.

Once in a while when the living
have not a drop of patience
it cracks, the blue glass bowl of heaven
“lama”, “lama”* it means.

If you have someone else’s love
take the staircase of heaven
but, throw away the dream from your mind
otherwise, it won’t ascend.

And you who listen but do not speak
but then again, like a wish (prayer) you sweetly smell
two leaves offer me from the heart
for I am stripped bare.

(* Sabachthani, Lama- from the New Testament, words of Jesus as he is dying on the cross)

Κι εσύ που ακούς και δεν μιλάς
μα σαν ευχή μοσχοβολάς
δυο φύλλα δώσ’ μου της καρδιάς
γιατί είμαι γυμνωμένη.

Νύχτωσε, βράδιασε,
ο κόσμος άδειασε,
κρύβω το δάκρυ μου και καρτερώ.
Μα εσύ δεν έρχεσαι,
βρέχει και βρέχεσαι,
ποτήρι μου ‘δωσες, φαρμακερό.

Όχι από περιέργεια,
μα δε χωράω στην ύλη
κι ετούτη η ψεύτρα η εποχή
την έχει για θεό

Πάει έφυγε το τρένο έφυγες κι εσύ
σταλαγματιά χρυσή

If you get tired of the people
and everything around you is ruined
don’t leave on a journey in other places
come to me,come to me

And if the night falls upon you
with its despairing stars
don’t be afraid of the dark
come to me, come to me

Come and lean your head
in my affectionate hands
so that you live the dream again
come to me, come to me

And if you see boats bound to break ground
and if you see trains setting off
don’t tell them to take you with them
come to me, come to me

Come and sit on my right
as a forgotten brother
to share my loneliness
to give you some light

Έλα και κάθισε δεξιά μου
σαν ξεχασμένος αδερφός,
να μοιραστείς την μοναξιά μου
και να σου δώσω λίγο φως.