III
Shadows of the living dead
calligraphically dangling
from the turrets of the castle
tortured aspirations hanging
from the insignia of palaces
groans hymned by untamed heroes
in the sunless dungeons into
which the brave becomes braver
and the weak become weaker.
Choir and its antiphony, two opposing
rivulets yet both trickling to the same river
merge into the most accepting ocean.
Kneel and forever fear me,
the day’s command laments
kneel and forever fear me,
the greediest ghetto decrees
kneel and forever fear me,
the ancient symbol commands
kneel and forever fear me,
decrees the greediest headmaster
with his golden tiara and
the gleaming chasuble.
Manolis Aligizakis 