Morning
Open your eyes and unfold
the black cloth wide and stretch it
open your eyes well, fix your eyes
concentrate, concentrate, now you know
that the black cloth unfolds
not in sleep not in water
not even when the eyelids close wrinkled
and sink at an angle like conches
now that you know that the black skin of the drum
covers your horizon fully
when you open your eyes rested, like that.
Between the vernal equinox and autumn equinox
here are the running waters and here’s the garden
here the bees buzz amid the branches
and chime in the baby’s ears
and the sun, here it is! and the birds of paradise
a great sun greater than light.
Manolis Aligizakis 