KONSTANTIN FISCHER, HANIA, CRETE

SWEET FIGS

All I remember from Hania that last summer

are sweet figs from a tree on the walls to the west,

that last summer, when the meghales dhynameis

had divided our parea: my cousin Yusuf and I

were to leave. Alverto would stay

with Yannis and Markos and Manolis.

All I remember from Hania that last summer

when the meghales dhynameis had divided our parea

is my mother cleaning our home, the entire house,

cleaning the somba that didn't sell in the kitchen,

I remember her making me whitewash the doorstep

at the entrance, the lemon tree in the yard.

All I remember from Hania that last summer

are the figs from that tree at our hideout,

those sweet figs and Manolis

and the smile 'round his eyes that last summer,

when the meghales dhynameis had divided our parea,

that hot summer, when we were fourteen.

All I remember from Hania that last summer

is my mother cleaning, whitewashing ta panta,

to show the whole world what kind of woman she was:

a good housewife. And hoping to find

a pleasant new home in the country

that for none of us ever became a patridha.

All I remember from Hania that last summer

are the figs and Manolis and his smile,

I remember his touch at our hideout,

his kisses, our tears that last summer

when the meghales dhynameis had divided our parea.

Sweet figs and his kisses is all I remember.

Konstantin Fischer, 2013 / 2014

meghales dhyameis (μεγάλες δυνάμεις)       Great Powers (at Lausanne Treaty, 1923)

parea (παρέα)                                            company, here: group of best friends

somba (σόμπα)                                          wood stove

ta panta (τα πάντα)                                    everything

patridha. (πατρίδα)                                    fatherland