Winter 2005

WINTER 2005

TRANSLATIONS The following three poems were translated by Philip Ramp, who has translated the works of many modern Greek poets into English, and are part of the book "Selected Poems: Tassos Denegris," published by Shoestring Press, Nottinghamshire, UK, in 2000. Denegris was born in Athens in 1934, and has studied at the International Writing Program at University of Iowa. A major figure in contemporary Greek literature, his influences range from Surrealism to the Beats. Denegris has published six collections of his own poetry as well as translations into Greek of Borges, Paz and others. Tassos Denegris HIGH AND DRY* I knew that by sounds And by sounds alone would I reach the moon The dark side of the moon Green Pale green With the hollow bellies of the quarries Green And thus as the sounds grew stronger Women and children and warriors Began arriving from all directions Clutching uprooted shrubs in their left hand And wooden lances or goldfish in their right To hear and see the priest. And as the sounds grew steadily more remote Sometimes the heavy tread of the tiger On the blackened crops Sometimes a mathematical thought perfect As a spider's web And everything frozen Bells and icicles Then the spirit came down To purify the hate And we touched the green rind of the moon Sunday 8 February 1964 *(Title originally in English) EQUILIBRIUM IS MAINTAINED Equilibrium is maintained thanks to the small child Walking straight as a ramrod in his green cloak Through the dark January afternoon.   6 I must learn to like six Up to now I've disliked it Just like I've disliked Zurich and Hydra However this March I felt insecure That's why I have to declare An armistice with 6 I have to be on good terms with numbers At least with numbers So I can have it out With all the Ides of March Well, I will really try to like 6 With God's help. I feel very insecure And everything I've collected has been scattered to the winds. 18 March 1969

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