For Maria
…My beloved
I love you more than I can say in words
I could die with you if you could ever die
yet my beloved
I couldn’t have loved you
anymore than the way I have.
We used to close the door behind us and
we’re still cold; we used to shut the windows and
we’re colder than before
and as I turned to look into your eyes
I saw the eyes of the neighbour whose four sons
were killed
and as I stretched my arm to find your hand
it was as if I stole bread from the hands of the hungry.
Manolis Aligizakis 