The Victor
He unlocked his dark room hesitantly
to try once more to hear the sound of his footsteps
on the snow white stone pavement of day
All expected him to come out through the sun’s door
He wore a golden denture of light
and tried to learn off by heart a few green leaves
but he felt that this way his empty mouth was more visible
and for this reason he neither spoke nor smiled
The others listened to their cheering
They never sensed that he stayed silent
Then he stooped down he took a stone and went after
the last loyal dog who followed him
The people raised him on their shoulders in the sunshine
And like that raised above their heads
no one saw him crying
Manolis Aligizakis 