Clay: 37

Yannis Ritsos

Metal on metal
hammer on anvil
wheel on rail.
In between each clang
is a bird
not yet killed
coming from the other side.

Athens—January 20, 1978



from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 95]

Clay: 36

Yannis Ritsos

Yellow afternoon
headache
empty houses
water flowing in the hallway.
Where's the plumber?
Where's the poem?

Athens—January 20, 1978



from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 95]

Clay: 35

Yannis Ritsos
 
Unrolled on the road
a huge roll
of red-colored cloth.
Passersby
walked along its edge
but didn’t step onto it.
The road was deserted.
The next day
trucks drove over it.
There was no longer any cloth.
The road was red.

Athens—January 20, 1978


from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 94]

Clay: 33

Yannis Ritsos

He took off
his beautiful mask
and placed it
on the bed.
His face completely
incomprehensible
appeared bloody.
Then the dice were cast.

Athens—January 20, 1978


from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 94]

Clay: 32

Yannis Ritsos

So many twisting tasks
he completely lost
his way.
Perhaps they asked about him—
then went searching
to find him.
Dark gave way to dawn.
Soon it will rain.
No one is looking for him.

Athens—January 19, 1978


from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 93]

Clay: 31

Yannis Ritsos

I hid it well—
the only evidence
a mountain
and the woodcutter.

          Athens—January 19, 1978


from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 93]