Poem by Nanos Valaoritis
THE RIDDLE
The root of a tree consumes my shape
a stone pricks my finger
and skins my brain
my eyes become prey of the leaves
owls hide behind my eyelids
my steps self-delete, stay still
become mouths among the memorial shrubs
a butterfly sucks all of my being
sparks and smoke come out of my nostrils
like the dragons who were corals in ancient times
like the thistle among the grass blades
wind whirls forget of me and deny me
flowers stick their tongues out to me
terraces walk over me
I hate the springs and I trade their wishes
I’m the favored of the waves like the pebbles
I refuse to retreat opposite the wind
to melt in the furnaces of heated baths
to burn on charcoal like a crab
to make superhuman efforts to talk
to save myself
from the conflagration I alone started
I shine like a diamond but I’m not a star
who am I then if I’m not who I am
a heavenly or earthly body, massive, fluid or airy?
Manolis 