Skorda's Seaside Taverna: Greek Kids

Skopelos and Virgin

-by Skorda

Swallow that campari moon
when first you see it
across the water,
rising round and new above the mountain.
Open your mouth and swallow
while youth holds its roundness near,
and you are running fearless in the dark.
Hold it inside, it is still warm
and you will need its light,
there, inside you.

Down the road of time, somewhere
after you’ve aged, traveled,
Explored, discovered.
And the dust around your doorway
has been pounded hard and smooth under your feet.
When you find yourself growing weary and bored,
when your eyes see only ruins,
and your heart is empty.
You may believe, in your exhaustion,
that this is truth, at last.
That the mystery has unraveled,
leaving no wilderness to explore or tame.
All secrets have been shared,
the frontier has dissolved.
Know then, with these thoughts,
you have been swallowed.

The warm belly of the beast
comforts with confining darkness
and lulls with rhythmic sounds
Murmuring to you,
Curl up and sleep,
just go to sleep.

Shake your head,
stretch your legs,
do not sleep now.

Remember what you know.
You swallowed the moon,
you hold it inside you.
Not as a magpie hoarding shiny things,
or wearing the moon for beauty
or bartering the moon for wealth.
You swallowed the moon for this moment.
When you will walk to the water’s edge,
open your mouth, release the moon
and let its light build you a pathway
across the wine dark sea.
©Skorda 2008

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Greek Kids

Greek Kids vs American Kids

Here is a post that arrived today via the Eagle:

American kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
Greek kids: Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.

Greek kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.

American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them, and it's usually only on special occasions.
Greek kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he'll plant some.
American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
Greek kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean??

American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.
Greek kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get olives, feta cheese, homemade wine, pilafi , Kalesonia Choice of two meats, salad, bread, a baklava, fruit, little coffee, and a few after dinner drinks.
American kids: Will greet you with "Hello" or "Hi".
Greek kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.

American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Greek kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad.
American kids: Have never seen you cry.
Greek kids: Cry with you.

American kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
Greek kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.

American kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Greek kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

American kids: Know few things about you.
Greek kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
Greek kids: Eat Moussaka or crusty bread dripping with olive oil.
American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
Greek kids: Will kick the whole crowds' butt who left you behind.
American kids: Are for a while.
Greek kids: Are for life.

American kids: Think that being Greek is cool.
Greek kids: Know that being Greek is cool.

American kids: Will ignore this.
Greek kids: Will forward it