(Excerpt)

From the forests of Bulgaria

through the oak trees of Thrace

the cedar forests of Taurus and

from the silvery olive tree groves

of Attica and from the yellow

flowered citrus trees, of all

the people’s best froth and

from life’s leftover cinders

knives of murderers and

snakes of the connivers from

all the gambling halls and

the hard labour, prairies and

tents, insults of the country and

cave-dwelling wild beasts

form all the brave men on the gallows

they all came and stood before me:

the imposing and the unrestrained

and the tough drunk revellers

with warring joy and ardour and

they all cried out and ordered:

make the voice of

your zurna, oh glorious crier

worthy of our celebrations.

Oh long nights and festivities

not the heat of day nor the snow

the daylight or the night

will ever make you stop.

https://www.lulu.com/account/projects/gjgv4ee https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3LP7NW6