I was lucky enough to come across a number of 1960s postcards about five years ago when a small stationary-tobacco store in the main square of Meligalas was getting ready to be razed and the proprietor was literally giving away what was left of the goods. This is one of my favorites and shows the two giants of rembetika,
Markos Vamvakaris and Vassilis Tsitsanis, playing alongside the god of music himself, Apollo--what a smashing trio!
On the way
To the overflowing
Landfill,
Against a background
Of empty sky-blue,
Wave after wave of mind-
Less white scraps
Of paper sea
Gulls sailing,
Headlong in.
Out walking,
That familiar shaggy stray
Cur straight ahead
Shagging a bitch
On the sidewalk
Coming towards us--
How when passing by,
We all give one another
One last acknowledging
Sidelong glance.
I made you blind not to have you
Believe the light but to have you
Believe me.
(From The Intricate Evasions of As)
On edge
Of buckling, weathered
Red-tiled roof,
Orange-brown, yellow-green
Butterfly
Trembling,
Like a leaf.
