Sophia Vempo / Σοφία Βέμπο

It’s the 13th of the month
a cursed day
I don’t want to see anyone
not even to say “Good morning.”

When dawn breaks on the 13th
I don’t get out of bed,
I keep the doors and windows locked
but how to close my eyes

They call me superstitious
but fate brought it
on the 13th for me to become an orphan
on the 13th [for me to become] also a widow…

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Με λένε για προληπτική,
μα το ‘φερε η μοίρα
στις δεκατρείς να μείνω ορφανή,
στις δεκατρείς και χήρα.

I wanted it like crazy
you wanted it even more
so I became, my child, forever yours
But I didn’t think about it
neither did I dream of it
how happy I would be with you

In the morning you wake me up with kisses
you caress my hair afterwards
every day you are laughing
words you speak affectionate
and you fill the house with happiness
How I am glad that you love me
always you take me out somewhere at nights
and on the nights you ask
if I do love you also
but I can’t anymore bring myself to say them.

We find the days short
that pass full of joys
always with the same spoken order
nothing else good I await
and only plead
in our life nothing to change

Βρίσκουμε τις μέρες μικρές
που περνούν γεμάτες χαρές
πάντα με την ίδια που λέγαμε τάξη
άλλο δεν προσμένω καλό
και μονάχα παρακαλώ
στη ζωή μας τίποτα να μην αλλάξει

My dear Misirlou, your sweet stare
in my heart has lit a fire flare
Ah ya Habibi*, ah ya le-leli*, ah
Honey drips from your two lips ah

Ah, Misirlou, magic beauty unseen before
I am going crazy, I can’t stand it anymore
Ah, I will steal you from the Arab shore

My black-eyed crazy Misirlou
My life changes with a kiss from you
Ah ya Habibi, with a little kiss, ah
from the little mouth of yours, ah

(translator’s note: ‘This is my approach. An attempt to keep the rhymes flowing, while still staying true to the original.
* ya Habibi, ya le-leli is taken from Arabic, in which it means “my love, my nights.”‘)

Μαυρομάτα Μισιρλού μου τρελή
η ζωή μου αλλάζει μ’ ένα φιλί,
αχ γιαχαμπίμπι, μ’ ένα φιλάκι, αχ
απ’ το δικό σου το στοματάκι, οϊμέ.

Κι αν μας τη σκάσανε με μπαμπεσιά,
οι σύμμαχοι στη μοιρασιά,
κάνε κουράγιο Ελλάδα μου, να μη μας αρρωστήσεις,
γιατί το θέλει ο Θεός να ζήσεις και θα ζήσεις.

We didn’t think about it very well, why did we break up, why
Since, how do you want me to say it- both you love me and I love you
Don’t listen to the talking of the world; you are dealing with bad people
Come back once again to the old days and don’t let it upset you one bit

Don’t be angry with me; come, as I am waiting for you
And let the old world talk, talk, talk
Your kiss is honey; kiss me and never mind
and let the old world say, say whatever it likes

You didn’t come yesterday, nor the day before, and my days were awful
Because the tears and crying didn’t leave me alone for a moment
I can’t stand for us to break up, nor would it be the right thing
Throw me a couple of sweet glances and leave the spiteful tongues alone

Don’t be angry with me; come, as I am waiting for you
And let the old world talk, talk, talk
Your kiss is honey; kiss me and never mind
and let the old world say, say whatever it likes

(translation: Eva Johanos)