Jenny (Tzeni) Karezi / Τζένη Καρέζη

August, lights at the shore
the boats are leaving for the islands.
They are leaving, the friends, they are leaving, the ships.
You fooled me and it is late.

September came, winter came
to the dark shore.
I got lost in my life,
you got lost in the rain.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Ήρθε ο Σεπτέμβρης, ήρθε ο χειμώνας
στην παραλία τη σκοτεινή.
Χάθηκα μέσα στη ζωή μου,
χαθηκες μέσα στη βροχή…

I brought you water in my cupped palms
to drink and quench your thirst
where your lips were bitter
And as your heart’s thirst was quenched
you were in a hurry to move on
Such bitterness, such thirst, so much pain
and not even a thank you

I brought you bread and honey
and a clean sheet
and the beat from my heart
And you didn’t give me your hand
and you have gone away- like a swallow-
Such bitterness, such thirst, so much love
and a sea of emptiness

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Σου ‘φερα ψωμί και μέλι
κι ένα καθαρό σεντόνι
και τον χτύπο απ’ την καρδιά
Και δε μου ‘δωσες το χέρι
κι έχεις φύγει – χελιδόνι
Τόση πίκρα,τόση δίψα,τόση αγάπη
και μια θάλασσα ερημιά

There is no beginning, tears like rain
The sky has no end
Who will appear, the soul feels heavy
to tell it to me, where will I stand
to tell it to you, why should you leave. . .

For a kiss, there is no beginning
There is no end to my heart-ache,
Bitter pain, small world,
For one kiss, a bitter kiss
Tears like rain, why should you leave. . .

(translation: Eva Johanos)

from the 1964 film “Lola”