TALAVÉRA Poem by William Cliff

Vanguelis sat in the abject posture
of a worn-out animal with his legs splayed out
(meanwhile the ship advanced glumly through the ocean
by the force of its constant motion)

Vanguelis lying with his sweaty skin
on his bed waited for me to enter his den
Homeros had sarcastically pushed me there
but I detested this mockery of the soul

Vanguelis' skin was naked except for boxer shorts
which covered up his sexual parts
(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its motion

by its propeller attached to the end of its enhanced
hull it moved the water and steadily advanced)
I drew back to avoid seeing any more derision
of what I love also for the simple reason

that the heat was suffocating that day
and put me off sticking to other flesh
(meanwhile the ship glumly ploughed on steadily
through the enormous watery swell of sea)

I withdrew out of sight of that poor guy
who was bored to death on that huge sea
and I went back into my cabin where I was face to face
with the immensity of the solitude of that place

(meanwhile the ship continued glumly through the ocean
without diminishing its forward motion)