Excerpt
Whitish blue dawn shone
while endlessly roaming
I reached a huge gathering;
totally burning countryside
denial of everything green;
wide red shore, a burning fire
men in cassocks all around,
monks, Christians feeding it
stomping the soil rhythmically
in horrific and lustful cries.
And the fire burned black
papers, sheets of papyrus
resembling bodies, hands
and faces amid the smoke
the flames, the sparkles
a few minds flew high up
matching their flight with
the skylarks.
And further away stood
another group, presenting
noble thoughts and kind
sadness.
And I knew them,
the polytheists, persecutors
of Christians, pagans and
philosophers, dream chasers
kneeling worshippers,
of the forgotten Hellas
who observed the fire on
the holy altar as if guarding
remains gathered for
their new temple.
Watchers of the fire, what
of this fire burning here?
Manolis Aligizakis 