The Guide...

Άμα σώπασε ο Οδηγητής, όλες οι άλλες φωνές και ψυχές 

ενωθήκανε σε μία και λένε το ακόλουθο τραγούδι.

             

     

               Δεν είμαι εγώ σπορά της Τύχης               

ο πλαστουργός της νιας ζωής

Εγώ είμαι τέκνο της ανάγκης

κι ώριμο τέκνο της Οργής.

Δεν κατεβαίνω από τα νέφη

γιατί δε μ’ έστειλε κανείς

Πατέρας, τάχα παρηγόρια

για σένα, σκλάβε, που πονείς.

Ουράνιες δύναμες, αγγέλοι, 

κρίνα, πουλιά κι ψαλμουδές 

τίποτα! Εμένα παραστέκουν

οι θυμωμένες σας καρδιές.

Εγώ του καραβιού γοργόνα

στ’ ορθόπλωρο καράβι μπρος.

Απάνω μου σπάνε φορτούνες

κι άγριος ενάντιά μου καιρός.

Μέσα στο νου και στην καρδιά μου

αιώνων φουντώσανε ντροπές

και την παλάμη μου αρματώνουν

με φλογισμένες αστραπές.

Ένας δεν είμαι, μα χιλιάδες!

Όχι μονάχα οι ζωντανοί 

κι οι πεθαμένοι μ’ ακλουθάνε

σε μια αράδα σκοτεινή.

Μα κι όσοι αγέννητοι, χιλιάδες

άπλαστοι ακόμη με βλογούν

κι όλοι ακουμπάνε τα σπαθιά τους

απάνω μου και τα λυγούν.

Δε δίνω λέξεις παρηγόρια

δίνω μαχαίρι σ’ ολουνούς

καθώς το μπήγω μες το χώμα

γίνεται φως, γίνεται νους.

Άκου, πως παίρνουν οι αγέρες

χιλιάδων χρόνων τη φωνή!

Μέσα στο λόγο το δικό μου

όλ’ η ανθρωπότητα πονεί.

Ω! πως τον παίρνουν οι αγέρες

και πως φωνάζυμε μετά

άβυσσοι μάβροι, τάφοι μάβροι

ποτάμια γαίματα πηχτά!

Όθε περνά, γκρεμίζει κάτου

σαν το βοριά, σαν το νοτιά

όλα τα φονικά ρηγάτα

θεμελιωμένα στην ψευτιά.

Κ’ ένα στηλώνει κι ανασταίνει

το `να βασίλειο της Δουλειάς

(Ειρήνη! Ειρήνη!) το βασίλειο

της Πανανθρώπινης Φιλιάς.

Κώστας Βάρναλης, "Το Φώς που καίει", 1922

I was not born out of chance

Not the creation of those who are young

I'm but the child of your needs

and the mature state of your rage.

I'm not descending from the heavens

for no one sent me out of nowhere.

I am the father, nay, the comfort

for you, slaves, who feel my pain

Heavenly forces, angels

lilies, birds and psalms -

it all means nothing! For my ally

are your own enraged hearts

I am a vessel's wooden mermaid

nailed on the bow of a seaworthy ship.

Meant to rise up to the toughest tides

the fiercest weather that opposes you.

Inside my mind and in my heart

centuries of disgrace have broken out 

and they are arming my hands

with lighting bolts fiery proud.

There's more than one, there are thousands!

And not just the ones still alive -

our proud dead follow in my footsteps

in a dark never-ending line.

But even thousands still unborn

people still not of this world.

They bless me, raise their swords

and rest their faith unto me.

But I'm not here to give no comfort

I'm showing everyone the sword

and as I force it to the ground

it turns to mind it turns to gold.

Listen how the winds swept away

words told for hundreds of years!

In the words I want tell you

you'll find all of humanity's grief.

Oh! how the winds swept it away

but still years after it's still said

About black abysses, darkened moats.

About rivers running red with blood. 

Here it comes and crushes down,

like the strongest north or south wind

all the murderous forces

founded on lying and deceit.

And only one thing can come from it

the one and only kingdom of Workers

(Peace! Peace!) this is the kingdom

of solidarity for the whole world.

Kostas Varnalis, "The Burning Light",1922

In memory of  the great Greek communist poet, Kostas Varnalis 

14.2.1884 - 16.12.1974

The Great December...

"When people stand upon the danger of tyranny 

chooses either the chains or the arms"

Athens, Syntagma Square, 4.12.1944

It was a Sunday exactly 70 years ago when a peaceful protest of EAM (National Liberation Front) was turned into a massacre. It was the beginning of the, 33 day long battle, of Athens. It was the day that the people of Athens chose again to pay the big price of blood in order to preserve its dignity and freedom. Freedom that had been won with countless sacrifices during the Nazi occupation that lasted more than 3 years (21.4.1941 - 12.10.1944). This time an "ally" was about to be the enemy... 60.000 British troops provided the best support to the Greek bourgeoisie class in order to achieve its goal. To come back to power no matter if this was fully against people's will! Greece became the only land in post war Europe (together with West Germany) that the ex - collaborators of the Nazis not only didn't get punished for their crimes against the people but also became an organic part of the postwar state.

Athens, Corner of Panepistimiou & Vas. Georgiou, 3.12.1944 (28 armless protesters murdered on that day)

The funeral of the 28 protesters of the 3rd of December. Athens, Singrou Ave. 4.12.1944

"Nothing can yield Athens"

Upon the danger of a new Tyranny people of Athens chose the arms and not the chains. For 33 days gave a heroic and unequal battle. But it didn't win. It didn't win only in military terms. It was the moral and ideological winner of this battle. Today the peoples all around the world seems that have chosen the chains. The only thing is that a minor part can feel these chains as it moves and tries to break them! Using a Rosa's Luxembourg quote "Those who do not move, do not notice their chains".

Syntagma Square in Athens, as seen from the rooftop of Grate Britain hotel, during the battles of  December 1944

«Αστραποβολά ο λαός μέσα στις συνοικίες.

Με μια ψυχή πέτρες λοστούς και σίδερα κινεί.

Για πολεμίστρες στους εχθρούς πυργώνει τις γωνίες.

Κι από τα οδοφράγματα η Λευτεριά θ' αρθεί».