Embalming
And the time came to speak the truth
rising through the cracks of the floor
four signs of distress sent
to the four corners of the globe
and I positioned myself
before the wrath of Zeus
when the mistral blew against me
and the terrace creaked
as if agreeing with my anger
at the little people who always knelt
while golden nymphs
reminded me of man’s misery when
finally, I placed my head on the pillow
to spend my long night of solitude
truthfully, Him I was, the splendorous
loner, the irritable saviour
foolish enough to be embalmed
Manolis Aligizakis 