Καλλιτεχνικός Σύλλογος Δημοτικής Μουσικής Δόμνα Σαμίου

Exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting
but oh, that greeting  “Welcome home”, oh that Maroúli,¹ is bliss.
The diver's air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister
and on my mate upon the deck² my very life depends.
For you, I wear the diving-suit, and drag the tube³ along
for you, they helped my feet into the boots with the iron soles⁴.

¹ Affectionate form of Maria.
² The experienced sailor who stayed behind, on the boat, holding the guide rope (kolaoúzo) which, tied to the diver, was used by him to communicate with the surface.
³ The tube which connected the diver’s helmet to the air pump on the spongers boat and allowed the diver to breath.
⁴ Heavy, metal boots which, along with the other weights, helped the diver walk on the seabed.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou (2018)

True, exile is the greatest hardship, the parting so upsetting,
but oh, that greeting ‘Welcome home’, oh that, Marouli, is bliss.

The diver’s air-pump is my mother, the winding winch my sister,
and on my mate upon the deck my very life depends.

For you, I wear the diving-suit and drag the tube along,
for you, they helped my feet into the boots with iron soles.

Translated by John Leatham (2002)