Monday, September 21, 2015

DEAR YANNIS

digital photoart: ralph murre


DEAR YANNIS
     to Yannis Ritsos’ poem “Absence”
by Stella Pierides

In our hands, you said, we hold
the shadow of our hands. I know
the cold absence of the marbles,
olives sprouting from the cracks.

The coffee grinder turns
slowly, gently. The moon
still kind, bathes our wrinkled
hearts in light. In silver. In sorrow.

Old souls sitting by the river
listening to the boat engine
starting, coughing, spitting,
dying. Starting again.



~ previously published at poetsonline.org