Macedonian Poets: Macedonius of Thessalonica - the love of women

• Report rights infringement
• published: 21 Feb 2013
• views: 546

The song is ΤΟ ΠΝΕΥΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΆΝΟΙΞΗΣ (to pnevma tis anoiksis), by ΜΙΧΑΛΗΣ ΝΙΚΟΛΟΥΔΗΣ (Mihalis Nikoloudis). Makedonios of Thessaloniki (Μακηδόνιος ο Θεσσαλονικεύς) was a Byzantine noble living at the time of Justinian (500-560 AD). Here is what is known of him: "Macedonius of Thessalonica, mentioned by Suidas s.v {Agathias} as consul in the reign of Justinian, is the author of forty four epigrams in the Anthology, the best of which are some delicate and fanciful amatory pieces." (Greek Epigrams, John William Mackail, p.194) Here are the English translations of some his Greek poems I have used: THE HOUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS "Righteousness has raised this house form the first foundation even to the lofty roof; for Macedonius fashioned not his wealth by heaping up from the possessions of others with plundering sword, nor has any poor man here wept over his vain and profitless toil, being robbed of his most just hire; and as rest from labour is kept inviolate by the just man, so let the works of pious mortals endure." THE CASKET OF PANDORA "I laugh as I look on the jar of Pandora, nor do I blame the woman, but the wings of the Blessings themselves; for they flutter through the sky over the abodes of all the earth, while they ought to have descended on the ground. But the woman behind the lid, with cheeks grown pallid, has lost the splendor of the beauties that she had, and now our life has missed both ways, because she grows old in it, and the jar is empty." Here are the words to the poem I wrote as a tribute: THE LOVE OF WOMEN Again, it rains, Curiosity in my stare Catches intimate moments. Rushing, running feet, rising over waves reaching like hands, fingers soaking seeking connection. As rain touches people, an accidental sadness covers greedy faces wet, all are innocents seeking happy shelter. Again, it rains, suspicion in your eyes. Thorns on the road trash in the well. I lift shards from the streets, broken and discarded each piece seeks a tenderness, broken parts yearning to reconnect. I notice that I'm noticed. The rain touches everyone, burdens souls with memories of loss, like a stem shooting from a seed, sprouting in toughness, a fresh kindness. Again, it rains, I wish it would rain forever. Watching wet hair caress a face softened by unintended tears. And then the rain stops, and flowers flow to their graves. The decay reassures simple people, that filth must come from flowers. It was raining that day when you sat beside me a river poured from my heart, when you told me that you loved me. Pandora changed the lives of men, releasing beauty in the clouds a gift for everyone to make a wonder out of suffering. Again and again, you save me. I think of your loss, pain so powerful it bakes bricks yet you pile them on each other and build for us a shelter.