Manolis Lidakis

Wherever you walk may you cast
my darling*
light for me to walk
and wherever you look may you show
my darling*
that I may look

I send you greetings with the breeze
that when it caresses you you may hear me
and that they may be sung to you in the sky
by the evening gatherings of the stars

May the foreign places be sweet
My darling*
and may you deny me
rather than it be hard for you
my darling*
the earth

*my darling: literally “my eyes”
(translation Eva Johanos)

Σου στέλνω με τ’ αγέρι χαιρετισμούς
όταν θα σε χαϊδεύει να με ακούς
και να στους τραγουδάνε στον ουρανό
οι βραδινές παρέες των αστεριών

White birds of the sea
who fly low
if you see my love
greet her for me

My bird sent into foreign lands
and my faraway garden
in my thoughts you are found
everyday and holidays

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Ξενιτεμένο μου πουλί
κι αλάργο μου περβόλι
στο λογισμό μου βρίσκεσαι
καθημερνή και σκόλη

And if your eyes do not cry
they have a way and they tell me
of the pain they hurt
With a sad look
cloudy morning
they ask about spring

They look at me, they talk to me and they wonder
ah, your eyes
They ask about the dreams we made
ah, your eyes

Dissatisfied eyes
eyes which are for me
seas of patience
With silver threads
I knit your hidden worries
into a song of life.

Μάτια παραπονεμένα
μάτια που είσαστε για μένα
θάλασσες υπομονής
με κλωστούλες ασημένιες
πλέκω τις κρυφές σας έννοιες
σε τραγούδι της ζωής