NIKOS DAWETAS
Dream
I was hungry in my sleep
and all evening long my dead sisters
fed me salt
then I was besieged by an unquenchable thirst
my larynx dried
"whoever offers you water
-they whispered to me–
do not look him in the face
if you want to wake again"
startled, I went down into the yard
our well was sealed
on it sat naked an unknown woman
from her ni pples flowed cool water
I looked her in the face
she had no eyes
only two silver coins.
My thirst was quenched, but I was hungry again
and all evening long my dead sisters
fed me salt.
Translated
from
the Modem Greek
by
Peter Constantine
ROBERT B. SHAW
In
Passing
Geese going over flaunt their perfect
V,
charging the air with cries. Of Victory?
Or Vacancy, surrendering the north
with the rank clamor of their going forth?
So we might wonder, even as we know
the literal translation well might go
