Thessaloniki

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Four Poems Nicholas Samaras (continued) Thessaloniki These are the streets you walked a quarter-century ago. This is the royal avenue whose name has been changed. This is thenew name of the streetyou can recognize, you think. This is theplace of your favoritepizza restaurant thatused tobe here. This is the colonnade and new restaurant thatdidn't used tobe here. This is theancient arch you satbeside, thearchaeological ruins sloping down to theAegean bay. These, the memories that follow you likeghost-reflections in shopwindows And what does it mean? How much does geography hold you - tieyou - to thisplace, that time? What are you looking for? Your firstapartmentwhere you lived and were lonely foryour father? The daily restaurantwhere you atewith friendsand were happy? The songs of thatyear togroove your youth back toyou? The beautiful girl you danced with? The returnofyour lifeto say, yes, Imatured here? Memories to show you who you were and are? Someone to remember you? The desire tobring your children here and tell them, Look at thisbench,see thisstreet,seeyouryoungfather, lonelyand loved .. . I came toyoufromhere- thiscity,thesestones,thispath. Litany for a New Century For everyonewho diminished from my life,there were these green andMidland hills. For every darkness, there were olive hillswaiting indarkness. For every unconscious rushing, there was air to hold thebreeze. For every silver ribbon of river that flowed, there was water, ribboned and silver, that remained. For every hand that wrung itsotherhand. For every daughter who asked her fathernot to leave for work. Wind chimes, did Ihear you? Daughter, did Ibend to see the colors you drew with, theneat printing youmastered? For thatday, I call fora new age. Pay attention. I sitand piece the century's fragments together. Iwill myself to stand still inaworld thatspins on. Iwill my hut to staywith me, in itseastern slant of light. West Nyack,New York 34 i World Literature Today ...