Poet: Odysseus Elytis

The Orange Girl by Odysseus Elytis

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Poem (“Portokolenia”) by Odysseus Elytis

Video by gobraingo, who also provided the following English translation:

THE ORANGE GIRL

She became so intoxicated by the sun’s juice
That she bowed her head and consented
Slowly slowly to become: the little Orange Girl!

And so while the seven skies glittered with blue
And so while the crystals touched a fire
And so while swallow-tails flashed
Angels above were bewildered and girls below
Storks above were bewildered and peacocks below
And all gathered together and saw her together
And all together called her: the little Orange Girl!

Vineshoots and scorpions reel drunkenly the whole world is drunk
But the sting of dawn will not leave pain alone
The dwarf heron says it amid the earthworms
The drip-drop of water says it amid golden moments
And the dew says it to the lips of the good North Wind:

Get up O small small small Orange Girl!
No one knows you as the kiss knows you
Nor does the laughing god know you
Who with his hand open to the flaming glare of the sun
Exposes you naked before his thirty-two winds