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Μέσ’ στης Πόλης τ’ αργαστήρια
In the workshops of Constantinople,
in the gold and silver smiths’,
I first laid eyes on your likeness,
and my heart was yours forthwith.
You stand there in the church,
like a column made of marble,
and, at the sight of you,
the priests their words do garble.
I decided to become a dome
up on top of Agia Sophia,
so maidens Greek and Turkish,
could come and pray to God there.
I decided, little bird, now you decide —
to make two hearts into one, one body, one soul.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
Μέσ’ στης Πόλης τ’ αργαστήρια, μέσα στα σαράφικα,1
σ’ έχουνε ζωγραφισμένη, σ’ είδα και σ’ αγάπησα.
Σαν τη μαρμαροκολόνα στέκεις μέσ’ στην εκκλησιά
και σε βλέπουν οι παπάδες και πετάνε τα χαρτιά.
Απεφάσισα να γίνω στην Αγια-Σοφιά κουμπές,2
να ’ρχονται να προσκυνάνε Τουρκοπούλες και Ρωμιές.
Απεφάσισα, πουλί μου, απεφάσισε κι εσύ —
δυο καρδιές να γίνουν ένα, ένα σώμα, μια ψυχή.
1σαράφικο: το μαγαζί του αργυραμοιβού, του χρυσοχόου (από το αραβοτουρκικό sarraf)
2κουμπές: τρούλος, θόλος (από το αραβοτουρκικό kubbe)
Jaunty and colourful love couplets sung to the rhythm of the karsilamas, which express the powerful feelings born of erotic passion. The beautiful beloved attracts universal admiration. She is coveted and desired everywhere: in the workshops and the gold and silver smiths, in the churches. Her beauty even stirs emotions in the priests. The poet looks forward to when the lovers will be united as “one body, one soul”.
Short, graceful couplets of this sort were common in a great many communities in Asia Minor, from Constantinople to Smyrna and their environs, where they were usually sung to the rhythm of the karsilamas.
Theodor Kondaras (2022)
Live recording from the concert Songs of Asia Minor with Domna Samiou, held on 8 March 2005 at the Megaron — the Athens Concert Hall.
Singers
Clarinet
Violin
Bowed tambouras
Constantinopolitan lute
Lute
Goblet drum
Bendir (frame drum)
Dancers
