Fotini Velesiotou / Φωτεινή Βελεσιώτου

Ach, life; you are hiding something from me
something magical which I am longing for
how you pass by me and I feel to touch it
as much as I push it away

That I may be well in the lower places
and see my day dawn on earth
to live with those high things
and lose myself in time.

That I may respect logic
that I may drown feelings
that I may secretly become a child
that I may play again a little.

Ach, life; you are hiding something from me
something magical which I am longing for
how you pass by me and I feel to touch it
as much as I push it away

That I may call sweet that which is bitter
that I may have two feet to get out
that I might drink coffee at the station
that I might not jump on the train.

That I may set myself aside
that I may not love like a corsair
and by the dream bend
the feather weight.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Αχ, ζωή…αποθώ.(δις)

It’s too late for me to hate you
The wind relieves me
they hunt me, the bees
and you who did not want me.

I sprinkle with a sprig of basil
to stop the evil
they had bound you, witches
but again you have broken me.

The night falls; I go out to find you
like a little moon of two days
closed window shutters
for you to love me- how much I wanted it.

I throw thyme onto the fires
they tyrannize me, the beautiful things
the beautiful things, the murderesses
and you, who forgot me.

If I cry don’t be afraid of me
I felt it even before you were lost
a bitterness in the rosewater
because you rejected my dream.

I will throw it there where you walk
our oath, so you may step on it
and let them give me pain, the bees
and you who did not want me

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Ash
lyrics: Eleni Fotaki
Music: Minos Matsas II
Vocals: Fotini Velesiotou

I had tears for you
with a sharpened knife
and most precious
I rained with those on the roads
and I kept lifting my shoulders
and I hid them from you

And I said that I mustn’t be with you
and you doubted how I could see it that way
all rosy
and you slept and awoke
and you kept waiting for something
that I was not giving you

Now hide yourself that I may search for you
and on life that I may cry
that we left behind
and if I find you and your are upset with me
I will burn, I will become ash
and come and blow me away.

The waters and the journeys
far from you they seem the same
and monotonous
however, always with a glance
I poisoned your blood
and I killed you.

You had tears for me
and they burned me, one by one
and I felt all of them
if you only knew how beautiful you are
I am the one who loved you
and felt remorse.

Now hide yourself that I may search for you
and on life that I may cry
that we left behind
and if I find you and your are upset with me
I will burn, I will become ash
and come and blow me away.

(Translation: Eva Johanos)

In this city which is growing
which throws nets and goes far
we roam alone, we roam like strangers,
every passerby another shadow.

This city in truth resembles
a wounded person whose soul is leaving;
he takes courage as dawn breaks
and afterwards once again he is gasping for breath.

And every night sorrow ignites
in my heart a bitter bird;
who decreed that we should live as slaves,
imprisoned without a jail cell?

(translation: Eva Johanos)

He will try me, the cuckoo, and the nightingale
but in Agiaso my little golden cross
the nights when the white snow is falling
the Tsetes will hang Christ

In the heavens which we make a ceiling
we don’t see a starry sky at night
Corsairs, Franks, Venetians
sold us for grosia and florins

In Troy they grow wheat
and in Agiaso in a deserted church
Theofilos painted with blood
Charon wearing light blue

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Στην Τροία μεγαλώνουνε τα στάχυα
και στην Αγιάσο σε μιαν έρμη εκκλησιά
ζωγράφισε ο Θεόφιλος με αίμα
το χάρο να φοράει θαλασσιά