George Vizyenos – The Dream
(Translated by Timothy Adès)
Last night I saw all in my sleep
a river deep:
God let it not come true!
Silent as night beside the flood,
moon-pale, there stood
a young man whom I knew.
– – –
With force the stormwind striving
and smiting
near drove him from the living;
waves sucked his feet with kisses,
inviting
him down to their embraces.
– – –
Not by the storm I thought him
mistreated,
despairing wretch forsaken.
To snatch him safe I speeded,
nor caught him:
abruptly he was taken.
– – –
I stooped towards the river,
him to discover:
my own pale corpse I knew!