Hellas 1979

my homeland, with blood I write your history

cities surrendered to concrete
streets scarred with foreign signs
in every building a bank
in every corner a school of foreign languages
every apartment a place of corruption
wild kids on mopeds
cars on the sidewalks
uncounted hotels and servants
abortions in private offices
sick people in the halls of hospitals
thirteen thousand lawyers in Athens
drinks on the rocks and roasted nuts
contractors on strike
traitors praised
collaborators rewarded
narks recording the tracks of our agony

before the commercials and after
people wait at the cafe in the village
for the immigrant's next money order
for the next serial cop show
for the next exclusive outlet
for the common european buy-out

the fish are dead
the air is black
the land is sold up
bourgeois status quo and free enterprise

and the olive tree grappling stubbornly
palms branching toward an incredible blue sky
for centuries
and the pines caressing the sea

my homeland
there is no end to your grandeur