Flery Ntantonaki

The mountains echo
When I cry in the evening
the sad hours pass
on an old clock
and I tick through the sighs
like a string of worry beads

The mountains echo
When I cry in the evening

I am sinking in my heartache
and from my many sorrows
I used to have courage in life,
but now, losing you
it would be preferable for me to die

The mountains echo
When I cry in the evening

I sigh from the wounds
and from your hurtful stabs
you have filled me with wounds
and the pains have devoured me
and you have thrown me into the fire
nothing can save me

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Στενάζω απ’ τις λαβωματιές
κι απ’ τις δικές σου μαχαιριές
λαβωματιές με γέμισες
και μ’ έφαγαν οι πόνοι
και στη φωτιά που μ’ έριξες,
τίποτα δε με σώνει

Three days now Ive separated from you
three nights I stay alone,
like the birds that stand weeping
when the heavens rain on them

Reject the sadness palikari*
lets take a stroll to the moon.

How can I go, go out for a walk
how can I remember his words?
under this moon how, oh, how can I sing
under this moon how can I console myself?

Πώς να βγω και, πώς να βγω και να περπατήσω
τα λόγια του, τα λόγια του να θυμηθώ;
με το φεγγάρι πώς, αχ πώς να τραγουδήσω
με το φεγγάρι πώς να παρηγορηθώ;

I love you (Magnus Eroticus 1972)
Lyrics:Myrtiotissa (1885-1968)

I love you!
No more words can I say
That are deeper or simpler
Or greater!

Here at your feet
I longingly spread
The petals of the flower
Of my life.

See, both my hands bound
And outstretched to you;
So that sweetly you may
Cradle your head in them .

And this jealous heart
Is leaping and yearns,
Just like them,
Your pillow to be.

O honeybee, drink
All the sweetness therein,
All fragrances pure
Of my heart and my soul.

I love you! What more
can I say to you, dearest,
that is deeper or simpler
Or greater!

Σ’ αγαπώ – τι μπορώ
Ακριβέ να σου πω
Πιο βαθύ, πιο απλό,
Πιο μεγάλο;

Over there in the cloudy stream
bent the night to wash herself.
In this way also the beautiful Bellisa
will be refreshed with a kiss.

On the stone bridge
sits the cool night.
In this way also the beautiful Bellisa
in the garden shall await him.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Πάνω στο πέτρινο γεφύρι
κάθεται η νύχτα δροσερή.
Έτσι και η όμορφη Μπελίσα
στον κήπο θα τον καρτερεί.

The stone is death
the stone is my life;
white jasmine flowers have grown
in my breath.

It is a lone tree
on the stone my voice breaks,
no air comes in, nor light
it becomes stone, my body.

It is the cry of the mother
it is the wound of the world,
bring wine, bring fire
so I may burn my sorrow.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Είναι η κραυγή της μάνας
είναι η πληγή του κόσμου,
φέρτε κρασί φέρτε φωτιά
να κάψω τον καημό μου.

John the murderer, son of a woman from Patras
and a man from Mesolongi
the day before yesterday, on Sunday, after being in prison
he came by the house

We brought out sweets for him, we brought out mint for him
but about the murder, we said nothing (x2)

Only Frosi, with a blue tear like the sea
in her great eyes
mutely kissed his costly hands
and went out of the room

No one could bear her pain
And not one of her relatives found a word to say (x2)

And John the murderer, at the edge of the corner
with the thorn of sorrow
remembered again faraway moons and the dream which had been lost

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Κι ο Γιάννης ο φονιάς στην άκρη της γωνιάς
με του καημού τ’ αγκάθι
Θυμήθηκε ξανά φεγγάρια μακρινά και τ’ όνειρο που εχάθη

Κι όταν πια σημάνει η νύχτα, τη φλογέρα τη γλυκιά,
και τ’ αστέρια αλλάξουν δύση στ’ ουρανού την απλωσιά,
πριν τελειώσει το τραγούδι κι ο αγέρας κοιμηθεί,
μέσα στο βαθύ σκοτάδι σιγανά θα μαραθεί,
πριν τελειώσει το τραγούδι κι ο αγέρας κοιμηθεί,
μέσα στο βαθύ σκοτάδι σιγανά θα μαραθεί.

Ξυπνώ μουσκεμένη…