Ο σταυραετός κι η πέρδικα

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An eagle swooping over and over the mastic bushes
singing sad songs to the partridge
scratching in the earth below,
sorrowfully called,
– Awaken, russet partridge, my sweet companion.
I’m on my way to the honey-flowers
so you can hear my voice.
– I’m awake. I can hear you singing for me,
I recognize your call and know you well.
But I’ll stay covered here on my branch,
for you are traitorous, an impostor bird.
All you want is to catch me.

Translated by Michael Eleftheriou

Ο σταυραετός κι η πέρδικα

Σταυραετός συχνοπερνά ’πού τα σκινομματούρια1
π’ αποσκαλίτζ’ η πέρδικα και χωματοκυλιέται
λυπητερά τής τραουεί και θλιερά σφυρίζει.
– Ξύπνησε, ρουσιοπέρδικα και γλυκοσυνογιά μου
κι απού τα σύναθά2 ’ρκομαι ν’ ακούσεις τη λαλιά μου.
– Ξυπνή ’μια γιω κι ακούω σου που κηλαείς για μένα
και τη λαλιά σ’ απογροικώ και σε γνωρίζω κιόλα
μα ’ε ξωσύρνω του κλαδιού γιατ’ είσαι τραϊτόρος3
γιατ’ είσαι κομποπίουλος4 και θε να με αρπάξεις.

1σκινοματούρια: είδος θάμνου
2σύναθα: άνθη μελιτοφόρα του βουνού από τα οποία παίρνουν νέκταρ οι μέλισσες
3τραϊτόρος: προδότης
4κομποπίουλος: κοντός

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Studio recording, 2004.

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