Friend's Memory Poem by dimitrios galanis

Since our puberty and always the two of us together
often in midsummer's time we used to take the downhill,
as soon as possible to reach
its grace's dew.
The stones dragged by the eagerly pace
could not follow our hasty descend.
In our first view - from above - it seemed
cyangreen huge reptil
to skim its whiteness
down there where it was creeping,
the far deep gorge to cross.
Elsewhere with momentum, unrestrained beast,
there and there tamed monster, in nonchalance.

Ιn our hands -the first years- primitive fisherman's paraphernalia,
technology's modern equipment, tools, baits - later on.
The battle was given from the riverside, the rocks amid,
traversing not dangerous passes,
hand in hand daring the uncertain ones.
A real struggle to bring the trout to the rocky or sandy bank.
We had the midday's break for a garlic, tomato, cheese
by the Bridge, at Valea, at the Cataract by the Mill
and then again rushed to our joy's sport.

Its stories caused laughing much to the gatherings.
You had the gift to see casualties and successes
from their hilarious point of view.
A failure, clumsiness, mishap was painted with jocundity's nuance.
Your kindness wanted to spread the joy, the laugh.

Such memories forged
our strong friendly relatioship,
and as long as I remain alone with them in life,
I will be regretting our river for not having the need of anyone
to creep immortal itself, beast lone,
in the bed οf its eternity without sensitive heart's contacts.

From now on, everytime I will see it,
for this only, my friend, exactly the reason
I will gloat:
What's the award to creep in its bed in eternity?
The graces of our mortal memories it will never taste.
.......
* [ To the memory of my friend George Giotakis ]