Άρνηση / Denial

Γιώργος Σεφέρης / George Seferis
Translated by R. B. Johannessen

Στο περιγιάλι το κρυφό
κι άσπρο σαν περιστέρι
διψάσαμε το μεσημέρι·
μα το νερό γλυφό.

Πάνω στην άμμο την ξανθή
γράψαμε τ' όνομά της·
ωραία που φύσηξεν ο μπάτης
και σβύστηκε η γραφή.

Mε τι καρδιά, με τι πνοή,
τι πόθους και τι πάθος,
πήραμε τη ζωή μας· λάθος!
κι αλλάξαμε ζωή.

Denial
Translated by R. B. Johannessen
___________________________________________________________________________________

On a beach, unknown
and white, like a star,
we were thirsting at noon;
but the water ― briny.

In the shimmering sand
we traced her name
― lovely as the shore breeze
that erased it.

The heart, the boldness,
the lust with which we went for it!
― Big mistake!
Our lives were changed.

___________________________________________________________________________________

This poem by Giorgos Seferis (1900–1971) was published in his collection Turning Point (Στροφή) in 1931. After the coup that overthrew the Greek government in 1967, Seferis went into voluntary seclusion and many of his poems were banned, including the musical versions which Mikis Theodorakis had written and arranged. Denial came to be the anthem of resistance to the regime and was sung by the enormous crowds lining the streets at Seferis' funeral. (Wikipedia). Βρήκαμε το ποίημα εδώ (από τα Ποιήματα, Ίκαρος 1972). Πληροφορίες. About the poet. Illustration: Ionian Island of Lefkas - Greece. Seferis as photographer. The translator also writes in 'Spiritual Matters' here. AWIP: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/poetry/hG8