Κεμάλ [Kemál] [English translation]

"listen" now to the story of Kemal

a young prince of the east

descendant of Sinbad the mariner

who believed he would "change" the world

but, bitter are the "intents" (plans, designs) of Allah

and "dark" the souls of humankind

in the Eastern "parts", once upon a time

the "purse" was empty, the water "stagnatory"

at Mossouli, at Vassora, at the old "palm-tree"

(being) bitter, are crying now, the desert's children

and a young lad, of (noble) breed and royal lineage

"realized" the lament and headed for "there"

the Bedhouins look at him, with (a) sad "aspect"

and (an) "oath" to Allah, (the lad) gives them, that "times will be achanging"

as soon as the "lords" heard, of the lad's "fearlessness"

"commence", with (the) wolf's "tooth" amd with (the) lion's "hide"

from "Tiger" (river) to "Eyphrates" (river), and from the earth to the sky

(the "lords") "hunt-down" the "defector", (so as) to "catch" him "alive"

the "hords", "fall upon" him, like "unrestrained" (furious) dogs

and take him to the "khalif", to "put the noose" (around his neck)

black honey, black milk, (the lad) drank that morning

before "bequeathing", on the gallows, his very last "breath"

with two old camels, with a reddish "steed"

at heaven's gates, the prophet awaits

(the prophet and the lad) "set-off", now, hand-in-hand and (all) around (an) "overcast"

but, the star of Damaskus, was "keeping" (the prophet and the lad) "company"

in a month's (time), in a year's (time), (the prophet and the lad) "see" before them, Allah

that, from his "high" throne, "says" to "senseless" Sinbad :

"beaten-up" "cherub" of mine, times are not achanging

by "fire" and by "knife", eternally the world "advances"

goodnight Kemal, "this" world will never be "achanging"

goodnight ...

• Artist:Manos Hatzidakis