Sunday Verse
The Gifts
by Miltos Sachtouris
Today I wore a
warm red blood
today men love me
a woman smiled at me
a girl gave me a seashell
a boy gave me a hammer
Today I kneel on the sidewalk
and nail the naked white feet of the passers-by
to the pavement tiles
they are all in tears
but no one is frightened
all remain in the places to which I had come in time
they are all in tears
but they gaze at the celestial advertisements
and at a beggar who sells hot cross buns in the sky
Two men whisper
what is he doing nailing our hearts?
yes he is nailing our hearts
well then he is a poet