Paulos Ioannou

There she is disheveled and dirty
By the sidewalk begging for change

She was young once full of dreams
...

...

And the old myth dies along with Saint Aphrodite,
Of the sinuous elegance and the lips of honey
Who is now called Maria Virgin of the vines,
Daughter of piety born under the Star of David,
...

The donkey whines
The donkey whimpers
The load is high
The load is wide
...

The only thing she had left to sell
to survive in this market place was her body.
...

It is written that Adam and Eve were kicked
out of paradise to pain and suffering
because Eve enticed Adam to
taste the fruit from the tree of knowledge.
...

Helen of Sparta came into my life
deliberately in the thick of night
wearing just a white chiton
enfolding her ethereal beauty
...

In every corner there is a woman
yesterday, today and tomorrow.

There is always a woman
...

Zeus had a lot of love affairs.
He made love to all beautiful women
he fancied and along the way
sired a few sons and daughters
...

The terrors of yesterday
Are here today
Marching in unison.
See them and tremble,
...