29 Jun The Axion Esti (Excerpt) (ODYSSEAS ELYTES)
And since he thought it beautiful for each to be in another’s
embrace
the large watering troughs filled with love
the cattle lowered their heads gently, oxen and cows
as though the world held no temptations
as though knives were yet unknown
“To endure peace you need strength,” he said
and circling about himself with palms open he sowed
iris, crocuses, bluebells
all variety of earthly stars
and cut into one leaf of each, as a mark of their origin,
their superiority and strength:
this world
this small, this great world!
FROM AXION ESTI: THE GENESIS
Odysseas Elytes
