Wog wedding
Kito Kito, we criss-crossed
your stefana* today
in the Cinderella ballroom
of our parents’ dreams
In a church of golden promises
I watched the white ribbon fall
between you and your blushing bride
veiled by my own tears and realities
I cried for the simplicity of The Simpsons
re-runs of episodes in everlasting Greek songs
and cousin gatherings in Pete’s garage
playing poker till he won all the gold coins
in the vasilopita*, on new years
wishing for a way forward
watching the plates fall
to smash on the dancefloor
of this very day
you dance the zeibekiko*
across from your dad
beside your mother
surrounded by your
once older cousins
your Dad cries
for the simplicity
of The Simpsons
*stefana traditional wedding crowns used in the Orthodox Church ceremony
*vasilopita traditional Greek new years sponge cake where a gold coin is hidden in the cake. The person who takes the piece with the gold coin has good luck for the year
*zeibekiko traditional Greek dance to the rembetika(blues music)
Melpomene Selemidis said,
November 21, 2010 at 6:14 am
I loved the rhythm & pacing & pathos in this!! Loved it. Thanks.
Koraly Dimitriadis said,
November 21, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Melanie, thanks for reading, happy to hear you enjoyed it
ashleycapes said,
January 10, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Awesome, I love the details you choose in this one, and the explanations really added a lot to the poem for me!
Koraly Dimitriadis said,
January 10, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Hi Ashley, glad that they helped. It’s something I have struggled with in my writing, how much translation to do, particularly with my novel Misplaced. The feedback I got was that the Greek used was alienating to non-Greek readers, but if I didn’t have it it would take away from the story. I am just in the process of going through Misplaced again and trying to find that balance to make all readers happy while staying true the story. It’s easier with poetry, but very difficult in a novel. Thanks for reading!
‘Shorn’ at Vibewire « ashley capes said,
February 20, 2011 at 6:01 am
[...] expand what I mean by author’s notes, here’s a great poem, ‘Wog wedding‘ by Koraly Dimitriadis uses one kind of author’s note very well, enriching the poem for [...]
3 Poems at Vibewire « ashley capes said,
February 25, 2011 at 12:50 pm
[...] expand what I mean by author’s notes, here’s a great poem, ‘Wog wedding‘ by Koraly Dimitriadis, that uses one kind of author’s note very well, enriching the [...]