A Door

Yannis Ritsos

The carpentry shop,
the ironmonger,
the grocery store,
the farmer’s rubber boots
on the porch,
the low, cloudy sky,
soapsuds,
and, so unexpectedly,
a blue door
fallen flat among the ruins
with the key
still in place.


Athens – March 3, 1985





from Balcony (2013)

Deep Breaths: 49

Yannis Ritsos

Sunday white
and seagull
white
the water
just barely whispers
a cart goes by
weighted down with whitewash
if a white word can be found
I'll say it to you.

Kalamos—March 30, 1980



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

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]