And…I Am Still Here

I was asked, to take the floor, to dance in your remembrance,

to the heart wrenching melody of Eudokia, to the 9/8 steps of the Zeibekiko

my challenger the ground I stood upon — and I claimed the earth you rest

beneath, I flew upon your cerulean memory, as my wings skimmed the

ground, my pathos bathing me in the tears for the dead, I shook the ground — awake!

The pathos of my loss, there for all to see, they saw nothing — but a girl

that bled to the pain, to the crescendo on the cords of the laout,

I improvised — and as the Evzones, I knocked three times as we do for our

departed heroes — I knocked three times on the pillars of the earth, awake,

lookup, I dance for you on sacred ground, lest you forget us, forget our

memory, why has God condemned me to mourn as I dance? my memory a

dance, a dirge of three threnodies —

I flew a wounded eagle, I skimmed the unfathomable seas of my pain, my

wing clipped tucked to my bosom in the throes of hell…

The laout took pity upon me and faded to the shadows, As I took a silent bow,

I knocked three times, you did not answer,

And I, and I am still here, cloaked in the benevolence of Eudokia —

Look up, look up! — I am still here for you, you were my reason to dance.

I danced for the departed — but none were there to applaud.

And… I am still here.

Standing.

Copyright ©. R Tsambounieri Talarantas. July 2020. All Rights Reserved.