(From the collection “Demons”, Melani, 2020, transl. Erofili Papadogia)
1321
Dante Alighieri’s death in exile
He could hear neither voices
nor footsteps
the market outside his door
seemed to have fallen silent
only the massive wave
reached his ears
the one that spread
and engulfed him
into the dark deep
that is when he saw
a colorful whirlpool
Florence in spring colours
poppies and bees
collecting nectar
and himself as a child
laying on the grass
traces of hell were absent
traces of Beatrice’s sent were absent
the only thing present
a restlessness
for all that becomes matter
yet always remains evasive.
1431
Jeanne d'Arc in her cell
Through a crack in the wall
a dragonfly slipped in
and when it landed on her hair
she shouted out
that her angel had arrived
and all the guards laughed
for they had pictured a large angel
with proud wide open wings
the insect then took her on its back
and they both started glowing
and thus embraced
they turned in circles round the cell
flying carefree
in the small space
that was left
for them to call sky.
A.D. 421
Eudocia’s coronation
Everyone found her pensive
and believed the din
from the crowd
was a distraction
but she couldn’t hear a thing
besides her one thought:
Leaving Athens was a mistake
its academies
the discussions
and the sacred light.
It was a mistake.
Now where would she
find incense
made of rich fruits
where to find
statues of gods
with beautiful shins and loins?
It was a mistake
leaving Athens behind.
Now she will stoop
below crosses and pray
and she must for no reason
ever bare her heels
and thus give away
that she is a descendant
of Achilles.
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