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]

Perplexity

Yannis Ritsos

Closed shops. Flour spilt upon the pavement.
Sandbags heaped by the shelter. Hands folded,
sad, he sits behind the garden's gate. A mob
of swallows flies over, their shadows crossing
his face. He bends over and gathers flowers.
He makes a wreath. Will he put it on?

from Correspondences (1987) [pg 11]

Clay: 30

Yannis Ritsos

At the building site
boards were nailed up.
Somebody sang:
earth and water,
water and earth.
All ready
for what's to follow.

Athens—January 19, 1978

from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 92-93]

Clay: 29

Yannis Ritsos

Kindly, quietly
he departs,
gives up his place—
a place that belongs
to his statue
with closed lips
with open arms.

Athens—January 19, 1978

from Clay (1980) [Collected Poems: IDelta ---pg 92]