Elias Elias And Elias Poem by Elia Michael

Meet three cousins Elias Elias and Elias
One is Uncle Sofroni's son
Two is Uncle Savi's son
Three or me, is Shalo's son
Three Eliases named after granddad Elias

Visiting my birth village one fine summer
When I was maybe fourteen or fifteen
These cousins came to meet me faces keen
Come, we've a surprise! Elias one did utter

We three were young lads and part of a gang
About ten strong, we walked some distance
Stopped in an alley quite near the church
Facing an old stone building, more of a hut

Doubts in my mind, I kept them tightly shut
This looked as if suffering from subsidence
Its ours! Says Elias one with great glee
Secretly I thought forward will it lurch

Yes it's ours! Elias two says to me
Guess what? We've named it Pro-odos!
As if to emphasize the church bell rang
What is Pro-odos? I say, my Greek failing me

Don't you know? Elias one says despairingly
It means, progress, Elias two says kindly
OK, or as you say, en-taxi but what exactly
Is this building called Pro-odos?

Why it's a coffee-bar came the reply of another
Of the gang called Antonis and then yet another
Antonis piped up, Yes it's our very own Pro-odos
Each member can sit drink and chat to the other

But who is to be the barista of Pro-odos?
Who is going to be the official Cafe-jee?
Elias one asks looking meaningfully at me
All heads turn to me with a knowing gaze

Lazily smoking his cigarette causing tobacco haze
Elias one asks, Are you not of Cafe-jee descent?
Wasn't your mom's dad, your other papou
A Cafe-jee making coffee in his own establishment?

All that you say is true, but I am still not sure
That the job of brewing coffee must be mine
Surely one of us here has something fairer in mind
As to who should have this task to endure

But as I gaze at my cousins friends and all
Elias one and two Antonis one and two
Stomis, Yiannis, Nicholas, Hambis, Kokos too
It seems easier just to keep the peace for all

Besides, experience tells me what refusal means
Bigger than I, Elias one would just wrestle me
Pin me down and I would submit eventually
Better give in now a lot more gracefully

So my job is Cafe-jee in this establishment
Brewing sweet black coffee from ground beans
Serving members and those with invitations
Cousins and friends enjoying youthful banter

How fortunate am I to be in this hut called Pro-odos
Sipping sweet black coffee with aromatic scent
Enjoying the camaraderie of friends and relations
A memory long ago but one I warmly remember