Polly Panou / Πόλυ Πάνου

From the window I send out
one and two and three and four kisses
which reach the harbor
as one and two and three and four birds

How I would like to have one and two
and three and four children
that when they will grow up, all of them
will become handsome and charming for the good of Peiraia

As much as I may look, I find no other harbor
that drives me crazy as much as Peiraia
where when the evening comes, it lays out songs in a row
and the plucking of the strings changes, and it fills up with
young people

When I go out of my door
no one exists whom I don’t love
and when I go to sleep at night I know that
I know that, that I will dream of him

Jewels I put on my neck, and a be-
and a be-, and a bead as a talisman
because in the evenings I am waiting, at the harbor if I go out
someone I don’t know to find

As much as I may look, I find no other harbor
that drives me crazy as much as Peiraia
where when the evening comes, it lays out songs in a row
and the plucking of the strings changes, and it fills up with
young people

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Όσο κι αν ψάξω, δεω βρίσκω άλλο λιμάνι
τρελή να μ΄έχει κάνει όσο τον Πειραιά
ποθ όταν βραδιάζει, τραγούδια μ’αραδιάζει
και τις πενιές του αλλάζει, γεμίζει από παιδιά

Bring me a cup of wine
and keep me company,
for me, this evening
is the last night.

You life, you’re dripping poisons,
I’m tired of you.
And when you promise golden palaces,
they are fake.

Five sad songs
from the depths of the heart,
nothing is heavier
than my sufferings.

Hey life, you drip with poison,
I’m fed up with you.
And if you promise golden palaces
they are tinsel.

And if someday, friends, you see
a mother grieving,
tell her to make up her mind
not to go on waiting for me.

Oh life, running with poisons,
I’ve had enough of you.
And as you promise palaces of gold,
they are lies.

Βρε ζωή φαρμάκια στάζεις,
σε βαρέθηκα.
Κι αν χρυσά παλάτια τάζεις,
είναι ψεύτικα.

We begin, we are going far away
In another parts, in another waters
In the jetty you stay alone
My mind will always be on the island

Now the boat has left
and from the eyes the land extinguishes
within the bowsprit the gulls fly
and I’m telling you “goodbye”

Around around the sea glass
But my thought has remained blurred
The sun shines now from high
in my mind many things come

Now the boat has left
and from the eyes the land extinguishes
within the bowsprit the gulls fly
and I’m telling you “goodbye”

I will rip the distant sea
I will see the sea and the sky
but my company you will be
My mind will always be on the island

Πέλαγος θα σκίσω μακρινό
Θάλασσα να βλέπω κι ουρανό
Μα η συντροφιά μου θα ‘σαι εσύ
Πάντα ο νους μου θα ‘ναι στο νησί

What did I do to you – you are smoking one cigarette after the other
and your eyes, full of bitterness, are nailed onto the floor

Tell me why you won’t allow me with two kisses to take away
the black clouds from your troubled eyes
Tell me why you won’t allow me with two kisses to take away
the black clouds from your troubled eyes

The pain that torments you is double pain for me
the tears you cry are dripping into my heart

If only you knew how I’m hurting inside, for you,
who are standing away from me and saying not a word
If only you knew how I’m hurting inside, for you,
who are standing away from me and saying not a word

Dear mouth that does not speak, dear moon that does not shine,
curse the hour and the bad moment!
I’d give it all for you, give it up and die,
if only no sigh would touch you ever again.

Every time you start down some road, in life
Don’t wait for the dark of night to find you
Keep your eyes open night and day
because in front of you there is always a net spread [to catch you]
Keep your eyes open night and day
because in front of you there is always a net spread [to catch you]

If ever you get caught in its mesh
nobody will be able to get you out
find the edge of the web by yourself
and if you are lucky, start out again
find the edge of the web by yourself
and if you are lucky, start out again

That net has dark, heavy names
that are written in a sealed book
Some call it the treachery of the nether world
and some call it the love of the first springtime

If ever you get caught in its mesh
nobody will be able to get you out
find the edge of the web by yourself
and if you are lucky, start out again
find the edge of the web by yourself
and if you are lucky, start out again

Αν κάποτε στα βρόχια του πιαστείς,
κανείς δεν θα μπορέσει να σε βγάλει,
μονάχος βρες την άκρη της κλωστής
κι αν είσαι τυχερός ξεκινά πάλι.

Whoever has not lived the paving stones of the port
doesn’t know what pain and heartache means,
how a person cries when their dreams are now extinguished,
how bitter is the world’s persecution.

Strangled breaths and curses,
painted lips frozen in the corners.
And it is a slow death,
the harsh law of the sidewalk.

Hired embraces
tragic stories
are written in the cold poor neighborhoods.
The song is a spasm of pain
the life a persecution,
the paving stones a heartache without end.

Whoever has not lived the paving stones of the port
doesn’t know what pain and heartache means,
how a person cries when their dreams are now extinguished,
how bitter is the world’s persecution.

The lights are out in the narrow streets
The port’s paving stones are dark
and life stopped
living her tarted-up lie.

Bitterness, tears, sighing
have been forgotten, and the heartache
became a blue sky dream
and the pale faces
the tired bodies
in sleep seek oblivion.

(translation: Eva Johanos)

Πίκρα, δάκρυ, στεναγμός
ξεχαστήκαν κι ο καημός
έγινε όνειρο γαλάζιος ουρανός
και τα πρόσωπα χλωμά,
κουρασμένα τα κορμιά
μέσα στον ύπνο ψάχνουν να ‘βρουν λησμονιά.