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Poetry

The Thief

By Marigo Alexopoulou
Translated from Greek by Peter Constantine

Vladimir (for some reason) made me
happy.
We went to the circus together
and watched
the sunrise.
At night I would rest my cheek
on his chest
and dream of snow.
He would read me fairy tales
and make me relish
the bare essentials.
One day I came back and he wasn’t there.
(Or perhaps pieces of my skin
were missing.)
Vladimir flayed my feelings
(stole my life)
and ran to catch
the last train
to Russia.

English

Vladimir (for some reason) made me
happy.
We went to the circus together
and watched
the sunrise.
At night I would rest my cheek
on his chest
and dream of snow.
He would read me fairy tales
and make me relish
the bare essentials.
One day I came back and he wasn’t there.
(Or perhaps pieces of my skin
were missing.)
Vladimir flayed my feelings
(stole my life)
and ran to catch
the last train
to Russia.

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