We were Greeks Our dwellings on the borders Of the Arabian Desert; But we have two rivers And some villages And farms watered by the two rivers… Also, we did have poets Who knew the meters And wrote about women and flowers. In Kinnesrin We built a philosophy school (It was astonishing that Aristotle's disciples Came to visit us from time to time Briefing us about the last manuscripts of Athens) But we were Greeks And peasants So, we didn't manufacture weapons And didn’t train our boys to be soldiers (Aristotle’s disciples didn't tell us that their master Was training the son of Philip the Macedonian to conquer cities! ) The world changes they said Even the sun will rise from the west… ………………. ……………….. ……………….. Now, I'm jabbering, Alone, in Kyriakos's tavern In Sidon. My terra-cotta wine cup blackened My hair is gray… And I don't know who to tell Even in secret That the Romans have banished me After we became a colony; But I think that Kyriakos Knows that. The world changes They say… ________________ Translated by the author