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Mayoral programs | Souris

 "Mayoral programs" is a poem written by the Greek poet Georgios Souris, translated in Enlgish by Naya Nomikou (September 2022).

Τhe poem is a satire on the announcements of politicians before any elections.


"Mayoral programs"

by Georgios Souris

Translated by Naya Nomikou

 

I see mayoral programs wherever I look,

and I carefully read them with relish.

What great projects! What pompous wonders!

They' ll really make our city a diamond to look at.

They' ll built theatres and orchards!

Gardens, schools, streets, squares!

 

The city's treasury will be filled with pounds.

and all its debts will be paid at once,

and the revenues of the city from five that were,

shall be fifteen and twenty... Oh dear me!

Water and fountains will abound,

and the lovely Athens shall become a sea.

 

Our city shall be like a glorious bride,

Smallpox and typhus shall be extinguished,

there will be no more sick people,

and the doctors shall become unemployed.

From hour to hour the people shall grow fat,

and oh, wonder of wonders! no soul shall die.

 

No mosquito, gnat, flea or fly shall remain,

and the Hearth of Light shall become Paradise.

Our friends the Franci and all their riffraff,

will party here in winter and summer.

Everywhere life, freshness, cool waters and lilies...

Blessed is the man who lives in Athens!


You can listen a narration of this poem in Greek with English subtitles (enable the subtitles and then from the gear icon choose English subs) here





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