ADVERSE EROS (1982)
For Timothy
But is there any comfort to be found?
Man is in love and loves what vanishes.
What more is there to say?
~W.B. Yeats
IN THE FOREST
I saw you among the leaves
in the waters
in the light of the leaves
in the leaves of the waters
in the moon’s reflection in the water
I saw you in the lakes, in waterfalls
in the lakes that light creates
in the waterfalls where light tumbles
the light encircling your body.
You were coming to the opening of the trees
walking, floating
over dewdrops
over smooth shining caresses
in the insubordinate black of the night…
ah, the night steams behind your shoulders
steams on wings
and a mysterious triangle shines
on your chest: dazzling target
of beauty.
From the grassy areas to the haired tops
up high to the crowns
of the superior branches
the highest frieze of lunacy
in nature
the voices of the moth corpses
to the spring of springs
the unbearable bird of sorrow
I hear with your voice
that rises from the depths
where the bile and the soul
in one voice refuse to die.
Everything that’s yours raves
in the thickets, in the grassy empires
of the dreams
in the glorious silence of the ivy
in the silent syncope of the fern
the vinous fainting of the autumn leaves.
Your meaning gushes out:
that no life
is stronger than lust
no act more final
than poetry.
There where you touched me
where I flowered
where I almost died
from where I call you
adorning your other nature
there where I was crucified
where I suffered
for your fairy-like grace
there where Eros was light
but with heavy consequence for the water.
Untamed in the ruling of reality
tell me, how I might see you again
coming out to the opening of the trees
with your thin legs
wrapped in wisterias
with the sperm of birds
in the roots of your hair
you who brings the sky
that I spent hours gazing out the window
the crows shifting their nests
you who speaks the words
that resemble wild marigolds on the hillside
you whose shining lips-speech
you the superior being
of poetry in the creak.
Manolis 