Tag Archives: Greece

GREECE 2001

GREECE 2001

We take the boat back to Athens
cold and windy and a little rough

Dorsey lies down on the way

If she is Helen returned
she might again cause the launching
of a thousand ships
but she would not sail on one

I have an ouzo and man the bow
swells rising through my feet
feeling the eternity of the sea

When the islands are out of site
I still feel and could steer
by the shape of the winds

IN GREECE

IN GREECE

In Greece
I remember and meet
myself everywhere
I am Socrates questioning
I am the athlete striving
the architect planning
the builder building, the potter shaping
the sculptor seeking, the warrior dying
and the poet pointing

In Greece
I am all men and all gods as well
and I remember
How many times in this life alone
I have pushed the rock endlessly uphill
Carried the world on my shoulders

Had my liver eaten by the savage bird
How many times
I have fallen in love with my own
reflection
Reached out for the sweet grapes and
sweet water
to find them moving always beyond my
grasp
Been forced to echo only what others
have said
Tied myself to the mast to resist the
siren’s call
Fought in a thousand wars
full out on the open field or sea
or hidden in the belly of a wooden horse

GREECE – INDEPENDENCE DAY 2000

GREECE – INDEPENDENCE DAY 2000

We stand in the sunlight of Athens
birthplace of democracy, philosophy
theatre and reason

Here man first learned true freedom

Created gods
in the image of his vices and his virtues
and learned to embrace and best them all

Stores in Athens close for the parade
people gather from miles around

For hours past the viewing stand
soldiers and sailors march in step

Overhead the jets and choppers
roar by in strict formation

Thirty deep and more
people push and flow and smile on cue

I search the marchers and the crowd
Looking for that one toga, one book
One independent mind
One ancient Greek

MOMMA IN MYKONOS

MOMMA IN MYKONOS

Marolina says, enjoy the room
my eighty two year old mother
lives on the first floor under your stairs
call on her if you need anything

Momma doesn’t understand our English
but most important that we understand
she could understand, but chooses not to

She also knows that her daughter
must rent the rooms above her head
but she will not look up