Letter From A Dutch For The Greek Language Poem by Joseph S. Josephides

Dear Mr.Ides. Seems you quitted the Greek language.
They take the stone from Acropolis to erect a Babel.
Your problem outruns the ill-omened facts of welfare.
Not only you do desire Aphrodite, a body in the sun,
not only you enjoy banquets with pure Dionysos’ wine,
but you throw the language as a swine in the mud,
while the litter of foreign pseudotitles choke you.

The grove of culture sheds tears (not heard by ears)
for it is loaded with monkeys, parrots and termites.

In this Babel they brought waiters with tongues as scissors,
you will starve if you cannot order a meal in English,
some in French or German, other in Spanish or Russian.

In this cup you don't see wine, but blood flowing
from words almost dying, from slaughtered words,
as if it was Homer’s tongue in the plate of Salomi.

Erysichthon, why you sell your daughter, the Greek Matrix?
It is high time for you, voracious man, to devour your body;
my language stands: Learn Greek to improve your English
from Melbourne to Washington, from Byron to Bill Gates.

I wonder if you have anything else to survive
in the desert, except the manna of your language!


© JosephJosephides