Michalis Andronikou / Μιχάλης Ανδρονίκου

A newborn infant between the earth and sky
a cradle woven from secrets and deceptions
and the ethereal forms sing it a lullaby
casting far away the nightmares

And if it cries they put on a mad dance
with drums and shouts for a shield
daemons, nymphs and thousands of wishes
assistants, all to the hope

Love it, don’t let harm find it
It is anticipated by wronged generations
That it may wrestle with black yesterday
For its glories to emerge as brothers and sisters

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Notes from the video:
“A three-dimension art partnership, under the title “Diosimia,” by the painter Miltos Pantelias, the sculptress Irene Gonou and the composer Michalis Andronikou. The three artists seek experientially the myth of the birth of Zeus, through an artistic exploration that traces the roots of Creation.”

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I become a booming gong or a clashing cymbal.”

If I spoke the languages of human beings and of angels, but lacked love, I would become a booming gong. Like a cymbal striking would I be heard.
If I was able to prophecy the mysteries, if I commanded all knowledge, if I had all the faith necessary to move mountains, but did not know love, I would be nothing, a void.
Love expresses itself in magnanimity, tolerance, good works for the benefit of others; it bears no jealousy or ill will, nor insolence, nor arrogance; real love is one.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

The old transistor radio
plays Manos Hatzidakis*
on the seashore of the heart
the concert never ends
every note a prayer
like a little bird in the rain.

We return from Sirius
and we sing in the streets
about loves, about deaths
Solonos and Ippokratous
and Aiolou and Athenas**
it is all here for us.

(chorus)
And if you are listening from up there
forgive us Mano
for our dream in a false pitch
and our era of babbling nonsense
the song, you taught me
wants the thorn of the heart
the song, you told me
wants breath and silence.

I listened to Hatzidakis
and I became a little breeze
on Elytis’s** balcony
and the swallow of Gatsos***
and it kept making a nest for me
the brushstroke of Tsarouchis.*****

And I ran down to the field
to enter into your song
and I fell in love with Flery******
and the star shone like crazy
it was snowing on MayDay
and the children were dancing.

(chorus)

(translation: Eva Johanos
*Manos Hatzidakis [October 23, 1925 – June 15, 1994], one of the greatest Greek composers and songwriters of the 20th century
**Solonos, Ippokratous, Aiolou, Athenas- names of streets, but also perhaps referring to both the historical and mythological personalities resonance by these street names
***Odysseas Elytis [November 2, 1911- March 18, 1996], greatly loved and revered Nobel prize-winning poet
****Nikos Gatsos [December 8, 1911- May 12, 1992], much beloved poet and translator, collaborator with Hatzidakis and other great composers
*****Yannis Tsarouchis [January 13, 1910- July 20, 1989], a great Greek painter
******Flery Ntantonaki [1937-1998], a great singer, sometimes called the “muse of Hatzidakis” and one of the greatest interpreters of his songs)