SLENDER BIRCH TREES
Dawn passes through the forest and stirs
the slender silvery birch trees
and the seven-layered sun rays play with the maples
while green-gold leaves bathe by the spring.
Among the branches black birds and thrushes hurl
their sweet songs through the light and air
while, you would think, the fir trees must forget
their sadness when they see the sunlit lake.
Oh, dawn, is it you I feel in my viscera
as if your fresh leaves sprouted in my chest
or, you, beautiful eyes, that have hidden
inside you all my joy which you spend here?
And if it’s you, smile at me, smile and my flute
will spread your freshened joy onto the dawn,
and if for it you cut wild roses so unevenly
lean down before me, sweet, and gild the space around.
Manolis Aligizakis 