A Glass

A glass for religious rituals A glass for philosophy A glass for the gods now dead A glass for the statues that never die A glass for the rising pillars looking for a roof A glass for the politicians of the Syntagma Square A glass for the never-ending processions A glass for Yanis Ritsos Waking up from jail memories A glass for Odysseus Elytis Lamenting for Helen O the endless range of hills That turns on their back in nightmares Listening to battle drums for centuries How many centuries you had to smoulder In memory of Alexander who went To annex empires, brandishing his whip Apollo who plays on the strings Athena who teaches tantrums Artemis the family planner Aphrodite with Cupid totting his handgun They say the time of the gods is gone The newly elected gods have already arrived Export models. In the international conspiracy, Hellas, your turn also has come Today it is full moon in Piraes A full moon each In the sky, on the land, and in the sea On the blushing cheeks Of the wine-drunk bride of Greece The irreverent wind weaves a spectrum Today we forget legend and history Today we sink into the presence of the Present We have discovered each other Both of us are the ancients.