Suspicious Sleep There, at the edge of the sky, just above the mountain peak, a little star announces its happiness, with a rhythmic though out of tune voice like the young fruit seller who sells the first summer fruits with a voice so convincing, almost deserted. And you felt guilty because you didn’t have the urge to respond. If you at least hadn’t seen, hadn’t understood. Guilty, not counting the guilt of others. You, all alone, put all the responsibility on your shoulders and you understood all your innocence. You went inside so that you wouldn’t see anymore; you got dressed and after you put on your shoes, you lied down, and fell asleep.
“There’s no mistaking it, Mr. Mayor. I saw your face for fully half a minute before you bucked me off and made your escape. I have never forgotten your eyes, your distinctive eyes. I thought I recognized you from the back of the hall when you spoke, but I had to be certain. You know, indeed you know, what I’m talking about.” Torgerson glared across his desk at Engine Fred. “You expect people to believe something dredged up from twenty years ago?” Fred smiled. “I didn’t say how long ago it was, but your memory is fairly accurate. It has been twenty-one years. Poodie James and I were discussing it just this morning. As for people believing it, I hope that it won’t be necessary for anyone to know. That includes Poodie.” “What do you mean?” Torgerson said. “Poodie doesn’t know who beat him up. He doesn’t know who attacked Old Sam, and he doesn’t know, as he puts it so simply, why you don’t like him.” Glowering at Engine Fred, Torgerson said, “I could have you thrown out of here.” “Yes, you could.” Torgerson got up, turned around and stood looking at cars passing on the street below. “What do you want?” “I don’t know why you beat Poodie James when you were a young man. I don’t know why you are persecuting him now. It doesn’t matter. I want you to leave him alone, Mr. Torgerson. Just leave him alone.” Torgerson spun around and leaned across the desk. “I’ll tell you why, mister. Because he’s a freak, an unclean little freak. He contaminates the town. He should have left after he got his warning, but he stayed here, dragging that wagon around, rummaging through peoples’ garbage, bothering children. All those things you said in the hearing, all those things Gritzinger said, that’s crap. Poodie James is nothing but a bum and a beggar. He’s bad for the town.”
Message An arm waving a message to you the inexpressible standing in your red gown moonlight vaguely shines on gleaming lips wet tongue caressing my smooth skin of logic night laments her dark role in the photosynthesis of your absence and my longing for you
Today and Just Before Today and just before light covers the sky I hear bells chiming faraway in the city. Bells that I hear as if they slowly spread evil and solemnly stir the remaining darkness. Where have I left my sweet childish heart? In what era, in which bell’s chiming I’ve tied it? In what era and today I’ve kneeled on my weak knees and prayed? A prayer to beauty, to the forgotten mother to ignorance, the smile, the voice of a dream listening to the saddened chime of the bell today that talks of the untimely death.
Manolis Aligizakis 