Isolated Cretan Village

LEMONIA PERFORCE => PARA THIN ALOS 22
Monastiraki
evening 2/11/2017

ISOLATED CRETAN VILLAGE

I went tonight to Monastiraki,
it was not as romantic as I thought,
the wine non-descript, also the raki,
perhaps you were not there, (surely not?)

I went with Photis and with Aphrodite,
a new Hungarian friend also with us,
I thought, “Something’s not right, god almighty,
non-smoking this taverna, what an ass!”

This village had three people in those years,
but no one lives here anymore,
this policy confirming my worst fears:
Europe, you did it, you’re a fucking whore!

Whose health are you protecting on this hill?
I go outside to have my smoke,
I’m sure I’ll pay tonight a costly bill,
and worse, at my expense will be the joke.

The Brussels bureaucrats can still determine
whether I smoke or not in rural Crete,
freedom of choice decided by vermin,
this is Monastiraki, village neat.

*****
Outside the chilly wind was not forgiving,
I had my smoke walking in alleys dark,
I took some photos, felt my story weaving,
longing to hear a dog, a friendly bark.

Not long ago this place was full of love,
a lonely moon now greets me from above,
I tried to see your ghost, but not much luck,
to that no smoking place I went back.