that was unbelievable. good god. maybe it's an overreaction to say it
may be one of the best poems I've ever read, but there's every
indication it is.
it's amazing how the list of items works both as a collection of
simply, aesthetically connotative imagery & as a collective scene of
implication, threat, misinformation, lax connection. there's a
wonderful, wonderful coexistence here of paranoia & a cool, good
humour.
thanks so much for this Jon
KS
On 13/09/06, Jon Corelis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Search, by Yannis Ritsos
>
> Come in, Gentlemen -- he said. No inconvenience. Look through everything;
> I have nothing to hide. Here's the bedroom, here the study,
> here the dining-room. Here? -- the attic for old things;--
> everything wears out, Gentlemen; it's full; everything wears out, wears out,
> so quickly, too, Gentlemen; this? -- a thimble; -- mother's;
> this? mother's oil-lamp, mother's umbrella -- she loved me enormously; --
> but this forged identity card? this jewellery, somebody else's? the dirty towel?
> this theatre ticket? the shirt with holes? blood stains?
> and this photograph? his, yes, wearing a woman's hat covered with flowers,
> inscribed to a stranger -- his handwriting --
> who planted these in here? who planted these in here? who planted these in here?
>
> translated by Nikos Stangos
> --
> ===================================
>
> Jon Corelis www.geocities.com/jgcorelis/
>
> ===================================
>
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