The Ballad of Sideris Isidor Steikovich
Isidor Sideris Steikovich
was the guard of my father’s home
and remained devoted
to him
for all his life
(Only, that sometimes they, lightly, argued
about insignificant things of age:
who of the two was older)
Sideris, from Croatia, thought
of himself as a true Hellene and
brought piles of newspapers
to the house, so someone
would read them to him
since he couldn’t
read at all
as time passed Sideris’ snow-covered hair
made him colour his mustache
the naïve citizens used to say
that he went to the painting place
he limped a little too on his right leg
since believing in the cries for justice and freedom
of the neo-Turks
he took part
in the usual bloodbaths…
Manolis Aligizakis 