Πότε κάθε μαρτύριο

Έριξαν αυτόν στο χείριστο των καταγωγίων
όπου πλήρης απουσία ζώντων κυριαρχεί
μόνο σκιές γεννά των αναμνήσεων η ομίχλη
που μακάβρια τη νύχτα το νου σου νανουρίζει

Τα λίγα απομεινάρια του για ν' ανασύρουν
όταν μετά καιρόν ενός έτους επιστρέψαν
για τον πλήρη αφανισμό του να βεβαιωθούν
προ αποτροπαίου εκπλήξεως ευρεθήκαν

Αλοίμονο! οι άνθρωποι λησμονούν πολλά
τις ευγενείς και ευσεβείς, τις θεόσταλτες
καθώς και τις ανόσιες αυτών προθέσεις
ξεχνούν πότε κάθε μαρτύριο φτάνει σ' ένα τέλος

Έτσι όταν αμέριμνοι στον ίδιο τόπο επήγαν
για να παραχώσουν εκεί και κάποιον άλλον
-κατά την ίδιαν τους την προσφιλή συνήθεια-
φρικτό ήταν το θέαμα βασάνου που αντικρύσαν

Βρήκαν αυτόν να περιδιαβαίνει ακέραιος
το σκοτεινό τού μαρτυρίου του λίκνο
που με περίτεχνους κύκλους και γραμμές
και αφοσίωση περισσή είχε διακοσμήσει.


Ταπεινά για τον Ε. Α. Πόου

Brother...

They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear
I was always there right on the job

They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower up to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, ah gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Oh, say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime?


They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear
I was always there right on the job

They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower up to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, ah gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Oh, say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime?


They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear
I was always there right on the job

They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower up to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, ah gee we looked swell
Full of that Yankee-Doodly-dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through Hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Oh, say, don't you remember, they called me "Al"
It was "Al" all the time
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal
Buddy, can you spare a dime?