Soula Birbili / Σούλα Μπιρμπίλη

It was laughing, our road, in the evening
when you came by to see me,
it was hard to see your face
light of the dawn, faint…

But the dark day came
and took you, took you to another land,
the sun of my joy set
where are you, my heart, that you might bring joy…

The road dimmed in the cold
where you will no longer come to see me,
pale was my face,
light of the east, pale…

But the dark day came
and took you, took you to another land,
the sun of my joy set
where are you, my heart, that you might bring joy…

(translation: Eva Johanos)

On the road beneath the apple trees
fires play among the shadows
on the enchanted sandy shore
a ship of the south
embroidered this evening a heart

You came, my old love
the seagulls brought you to the shore
and the stones found the apple tree*
you came, my good love
the golden source of the sky
and the sun in the east

Now our own wings
in the neighborhood of blooming flowers
fly with songs and birds
on the sides of the hill over there
the lilies and roses
are saying prayers for you

(translation: Eva Johanos
*μηλιά, μιλιά~ there is a play on words in this line, as the written word for “apple tree” sounds the same as the second word, which means the power of speech, so this line could also mean: the stones found the ability to speak)

I slept, I slept
in the fragrance of the jasmine flowers
In the solitude of the moon
in the little wave of the shore

People rejected me
no one approaches me
Only he keeps me company
at night, the cricket:

-Take care, he says, take care
and I too am here, close to you
For company, in your cares
and to comfort you

Tri and tri and tri and tri*
how bitter is life
How sweet and how bitter
Tri and tri and tri and tri

I slept, I slept
in the shadow of the Archangels
in the murmuring of the leaves
on the golden beach of the stars

People rejected me
no one approaches me
Only he responds to me
the cricket of the night:

- I am small, very small
but God is big
That I will never tell you
nor will anyone else

Tri and tri and tri and tri
how bitter is life
How sweet and how bitter
Tri and tri and tri and tri

(from the Little Cyclades)

(translation: Eva Johanos
*the repeated sound mimics the sound of the cricket, and this syllable is part of the cricket’s name, “Trizoni”: an onomatopoeic name as in English.)

Marina my green star
Marina light of the morning star
Marina my wild dove
and lily of the summer

Give me mint to smell,
vervaine and basil,
together with these to kiss you,
and what to remember first

The source with the doves,
the sword of the archangels,
the orchard with the stars,
and the deep well

The nights when I took you out walking,
to the other edge of the sky
and I watched you rise
like the sister of the morning star

Marina my green star
Marina light of the morning star
Marina my wild dove
and lily of the summer

(translation: Eva Johanos)

The bread is on the table
the water is in the pitcher
the pitcher on the steps
give to the thief to drink

The bread is on the table
the water is in the pitcher
the pitcher on the steps
give to Christ to drink

Give, mother, to the passerby
to Christ and to the thief
give, mother, enough to satisfy
give my love to drink

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Eyes filled with tears, gardens filled with sleep,
broken dreams… if only I could live
on the wide streets, under the posters
in a thousand colours, that’s where I want to be

If only my heart could be a shining star,
if only my eyes could be a two-edged knife,
a flashing sword at midday,
a flashing sword at midday.