Hermes
Early in the morning Hermes
helped me discover why
I was different
from the statue, tasting as
I was like the abalone.
Individualization
incarnation and
shiny pebbles
by the shore
naked Korae with
the sweetness of fresh grapes
during a summer hespera
purple colored sighs
and the lone martyr who I became
I felt indisposed to uphold
blasphemies of the pious
thus annulling their advice
and turning inward to my roots
the depth of my path I discerned
reaching my catharsis
that the north wind
bestowed unto my body
but not before
I defended the patriot ground,
with my armor:
exquisite gardenia aroma
gills of fishes full of bubbles
and small sponges
that I pulled from
the bottom of the sea
another way
to cleanse the moral impurities
of my soul
Manolis Aligizakis 