Audio Performance of Translation
George Economou reads “Those You See,” his translation of Michalis Katsaros’s poem Aftous pou vlepeis. Vassilis Lambropoulos asked Economou to record his translation on top of Grigoris Bithikotsis’s voice, following the rhythm of the Mikis Theodorakis setting.
Those You See
Those you see you’ll come across once more
you’ll get to know them once again
one of them called Bill and another Ben
Those you see you’ll come across once more
you’ll get to know them once again
into this world they will return
and with a greater pride to burn
Those you see you’ll come across once more
you’ll get to hate them once again
but one you’ll not find anymore
the youngest, most bitter, and most dear
the one and lonely, strong and free of fear
Him you’ll never see again to hurt
and his great heart to tear apart
him you’ll never find again the one who’s guarded by the stars
the one guarded by his sun, guarded by the moon
He who has the gift, the youngest
the most bitter and most dear
for him I alone await, I alone am here
––translation by George Economou
Αὐτοὺς ποὺ βλέπεις πάλι θὰ τοὺς ξαναϊδείς
θὰ τοὺς γνωρίσεις πάλι
ἄλλον θὰ λένε Κωνσταντὴ κι ἄλλον Μιχάλη
Αὐτοὺς ποὺ βλέπεις πάλι θὰ τοὺς ξαναϊδείς
θὰ τοὺς γνωρίσεις πάλι
σ᾿ αὐτὸν τὸν κόσμο θὰ γυρνοῦν
μὲ περηφάνια πιὸ μεγάλη
Αὐτοὺς ποὺ βλέπεις πάλι θὰ τοὺς ξαναϊδείς
θὰ τοὺς μισήσεις πάλι
ἕναν μονάχα δὲ θὰ βρεῖς
τὸν πιὸ μικρό, τὸν πιὸ πικρό, τὸν πιὸ ἀγαπημένο
τὸν μοναχό, τὸν δυνατὸ καὶ τὸν ἀντρειωμένο
Αὐτὸν δὲ θὰ τὸν ξαναΐδεις νὰ τόνε βασανίσεις
καὶ τὴν μεγάλη του καρδιὰ νὰ τηνε σκίσεις
αὐτὸν δὲ θὰ τὸν ξαναβρεῖς τί τὸν φυλᾶνε τ᾿ ἄστρα
τί τὸν φυλάει ὁ ἥλιος του, τόνε φυλάει τὸ φεγγάρι
Αὐτὸν πού ῾χει τὴ χάρη τὸν πιὸ μικρὸ
τὸν πιὸ πικρὸ καὶ τὸν ἀγαπημένο
αὐτὸν μονάχα ἐγώ, μονάχα ἐγώ, ἐγὼ προσμένω