Dance Of Death (Women Of Souli 1803) Poem by Elia Michael

They threw their children down, they threw them down
From steep and lofty mountainous terrain
They hurled them down where they smashed on the ground
What anguish played out in their minds, what pain
They suffered to come to this brave decision
To throw their children down and then themselves!
There was no choice for they could not envision
Enslavement for their children or themselves

Entrapped upon a lofty mountain's ledge
Refusing to submit, they danced to death
And threw themselves down from the very edge
And bade farewell to Greece with their last breath

These Souli women, brave, with dignity
Would die as they had lived, with liberty