Καλλιτεχνικός Σύλλογος Δημοτικής Μουσικής Δόμνα Σαμίου

Young men who’ve let their hair grow long and dress in black all over
bring messages for one whom I did once love very dearly,
while lying deep within my veins a bloodlike stretch of dark sea
speaks words of bitter content.

Here upon -aman, aman- here upon the grassy meadow,
here upon the grassy meadow, what a splendid dance there’ll be!

Of all God’s creatures only I must live so deeply mournful.
I, who loved you with my all, am on my own and lonesome.
Dark waters of a land-locked sea, my soul is forfeit to the
one who wants you more than I do.

Like a maypole’s coloured ribbons, five partridges¹ were on the wing.

In magic arts and telling dreams, a bell and candelabrum,
Odessa, Varna and the City², Constantza and Vraila,
and at a time that’s unrevealed, like one of Aimos’s volcanoes,
warlike legions overflowing.

Translated by John Leatham

¹partridges: in Greek, synonymous with sweet and tender girls
²City: Constantinople