Yannis Ritsos: Selected Poems, 1938-1988. Edited and Translated by Kimon Friar and Kostas Myrsiades. With Additional Translations by: Athan Anagnostopoulos, Peter Bien, Andonis Decavalles, N.C. Germanacos, George Giannaris, Karelisa Hartigan, Edmund Keeley, Thanasis Maskaleris, Gwendolyn MacEwen, Martin McKinsey, Philip Pastras, George Pilitsis, Minas Savvas, John Stathatos and Nikos Tsingos. Brockport, NY: BOA Editions Ltd., 1989. xxii, 486 p.

ISBN 0918526663; 9780918526663; 0918526671 pbk; 9780918526670 pbk

Contains: "Prefatory Note" by Kostas Myrsiades" (pp. xxi-xxii); «Η μαύρη βάρκα» in the handwriting of the poet (p. [xxiii]).

From Notes on the Margins of Time [Σημειώσεις στα περιθώρια του χρόνου] (1938-1941), tr. Kimon Friar: "Doxology", "Hour of Song" (p. 3); "A Small Invitation", "Succession" (p. 4); "Etesian Winds" (p. 5); "Summer in the City" (pp. 5-6); "Assistance" (pp. 6-7); "The Conqueror" (p. 7); "The Hill" (p. 8).

Romiosini [Ρωμιοσύνη] (1945-1947), tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 9-23).

From Parentheses [Παρενθέσεις] I (1946-1947), trs. Kimon Friar, Edmund Keeley, Thanasis Maskaleris: "The Meaning of Simplicity", tr. Kimon Friar. (p. 25); "Maybe, Someday", tr. Edmund Keeley (pp. 25-26); "Final Agreement" (p. 26); "Reformation", "Suddenly" (p. 27); "Afternoon" (pp. 27-28); "Understanding" (p. 28); "Miniature" (p. 29); "Women" (pp. 29-30), tr. Kimon Friar; "The Same Star", tr. Edmund Keeley (p. 30); "We Are Waiting", tr. Thanasis Maskaleris (p. 30).

From Displacements [Μετακινήσεις] (1942-1949), tr. Martin McKinsey.

From The Wavering Scales [Το παίξιμο της ζυγαριάς]: "Insufficiency" (pp. 31-32); "The Inexhaustible" (pp. 32-33).

From Petrified Time [Πέτρινος χρόνος] (1949), trs. Athan Anagnostopoulos, Martin McKinsey: "Recognition", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos (pp. 35-36); "Ready", tr. Martin McKinsey (pp. 36-37); "The Roots of the World", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos (pp. 37-38); "Our Old Men", tr. Martin McKinsey (pp. 38-39).

From Exile's Journals [Τα ημερολόγια της εξορίας] (1948-1950), trs. Kostas Myrsiades, Minas Savvas: from Exile's Journals, I, tr. Minas Savvas: "6 November 1948" (p. 41); "12 November 1948", "17 November 1948" (p. 42); "21 November 1948" (p. 43); from Exile's Journals, II, tr. Kostas Myrsiades; "24 November 1948" (pp. 43-44); "26 November 1948" (pp. 44-45); "27 November 1948", "30 November 1948" (p. 45); "1 December 1948", "7 December 1948", "23 January 1949" (p. 46); "26 January 1949", "30 January 1949" (p. 47); from Exile's Journals, III, tr. Minas Savvas: "1 May 1950" (p. 47); "6 May 1950", "7 May 1950" (p. 48); "19 May 1950" (pp. 48-49); "24 May 1950" (p. 49); "30 May 1950" (pp. 49-50).

From Vigilance [Αγρύπνια] (1938-1953), tr. Kimon Friar: "Peace" (pp. 51-53).

From Train Whistles [Σφυρίγματα τραίνων] (1939-1954), tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos: "Midnight" (p. 55); "Postponed Decision" (pp. 55-57).

Moonlight Sonata [Η σονάτα του σεληνόφωτος] (1956), tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 59-67).

The Bridge. An Uncalled-for Apology [Η γέφυρα. Μια απολογία που δε ζητήθηκε] (1959), tr. George Giannaris (pp. 69-81).

From Exercises [Ασκήσεις] (1950-1960), trs. Kimon Friar, Thanasis Maskaleris, Minas Savvas, John Stathatos, Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos: "The Statues" (p. 83); "Deadly Victory" (pp. 83-84), tr. Minas Savvas; "Courage or Ignorance", tr. Thanasis Maskaleris (p. 84); "After the Fire" (pp. 84-85); "The Unjust" (p. 85); "A Proletarian Speaker" (pp. 85-86), tr. Minas Savvas; "Interchanges", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 86); "Beauty" (pp. 86-87); "Episode" (p. 87); "To an Unknown Direction" (pp. 87-88), tr. Minas Savvas; "Necessary Explanation", tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 88-89); "Maturity" (p. 89); "A Myopic Child", trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos; "A Life", tr. John Stathatos (p. 90); "Fulfillment", tr. Thanasis Maskaleris; "A Lone Man's Night" (p. 91); "Country Woman" (p. 92), tr. Kimon Friar; "Always So", tr. Minas Savvas (p. 93); "Contradictions", trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos (pp. 93-94); "Harvest of the Void" (p. 94); "Noon", "Wonder", tr. Minas Savvas (p. 95); "Greek Cart-Drivers", tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 95-96); "Question", tr. Minas Savvas (pp. 96-97); "Abstracted Painter", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 97); "Return of a Deserter", tr. John Stathatos (pp. 97-98); "Moment" (p. 98); "Therapy" (pp. 98-99), tr. Kimon Friar; "Hunters" (p. 99); "Coincidentally" (pp. 99-100), tr. John Stathatos; "The Usefulness of Art", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 100).

From Parentheses [Παρενθέσεις] II (1950-1961), tr. Edmund Keeley: "Hands", "Nocturnal" (p. 101); "Incense", "A Wreath" (p. 102); "Message" (p. 103).

The Prison Tree and the Women [Το δέντρο της φυλακής και οι γυναίκες] (1962), tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 105-112).

From Testimonies [Μαρτυρίες] I (1957-1963), tr. Kimon Friar: "Danger Outstripped" (p. 113); "New Victory" (pp. 113-114); "Remembrance" (p. 114); "Builders" (pp. 114-115); "The Audible and the Inaudible" (p. 115); "Honest Confrontation" (pp. 115-116); "Conformity" (p. 116); "For Greater Accuracy", "Perspective" (p. 117); "The Idiot", "Silent Agreement" (p. 118); "The End of a Day", "Knowledge of the Ambiguous" (p. 119); "The Thief" (p. 120); "Under Oblivion" (pp. 120-121); "Misconstructions" (p. 121); "Knocking", "Ancient Amphitheater" (p. 122); "Until Daybreak" (p. 123); "A Tree" (pp. 123-124); "Process" (p. 124); "Ascent" (pp. 124-125); "Stones" (p. 125); "Private Place" (pp. 125-126); "Remorse" (p. 126); "Plaster Model" (pp. 126-127); "Moment of Contrition", "Morning" (p. 127); "Summer", "Scrutiny" (p. 128); "Almost a Conjuror", "Need of Proof" (p. 129).

Twelve Poems for Cavafis [12 ποιήματα για τον Καβάφη] (1963) [tr. Kimon Friar] (pp. 131-138).

From Summer Preparatory School [Θερινό φροντιστήριο] (1953-1964), trs. Athan Anagnostopoulos, Kimon Friar: "Summer at Dhiminio", tr. Kimon Friar; "Bodies" (p. 139); "Sunflowers", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos; "Summer Noon at Karlovasi", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 140); "Absence", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos (pp. 140-141); "Nocturne" (p. 141); "Summer Sorrow" (pp. 141-142); "The Center", "Farmer" (p. 142); "Helen's House", tr. Kimon Friar; "Probabilities", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos (p. 143); "Stripped Naked", tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 143-144); "Adolescent", "Accented Colors", tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos (p. 144).

From Small Dedication [Μικρό αφιέρωμα] (1960-1965), trs. Athan Anagnostopoulos, Kimon Friar: "Small Song for Éri" (p. 145); "The Imponderous Night" (pp. 145-146); "Unexpectedly", "School Holidays" (p. 146); "Revival", tr. Kimon Friar; "Calm" (p. 147); "Lyric Poem" (pp. 147-148), tr. Athan Anagnostopoulos; "Separation", "Invisible Glory", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 148).

Philoctetes. The Ultimate Mask [Φιλοκτήτης] (1963-1965), tr. Peter Bien (pp. 149-169).

From Testimonies [Μαρτυρίες] II (1964-1965), tr. Kimon Friar: "Displacement" (p. 171); "An Invalid's Day" (pp. 171-172); "The Suspect", "The Wind's Body" (p. 172); "Small Confession", "Untamed" (p. 173); "Afternoon" (pp. 173-174); "Messenger", "Reverse Side" (p. 174); "After the Ceremony" (p. 175); "The Peacocks of Perilampes" (pp. 175-176); "The First Sensual Delight" (p. 176); "Choice" (pp. 176-177); "At Nausicä's House" (p. 177); "Gradations", "Trivial Details" (p. 178); "Month of Cleaning" (p. 179).

Orestes [Ορέστης] (1962-1966), trs. Philip Pastras & George Pilitsis (pp. 181-199).

From Tanagra Figurines [Ταναγραίες] (1967), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "The Potter", "Method of Salvation" (p. 201); "Marine", "Night Ritual" (p. 202); "Face or Mask?" (pp. 202-203); "The One-Armed Man", "Acrobatics" (p. 203); "Esteem" (pp. 203-204); "Subject for an Oil Painting", "The Old House" (p. 204).

From Stones [Πέτρες] (1968), trs. Kimon Friar, N.C. Germanacos, Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos: "Unaccomplished", tr. Kimon Friar; "Signals", trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos (p. 205); "Unanswered", "The Unacceptable Man" (p. 206); "Toward What?" (p. 207); "Method for Optimism" (pp. 207-208); "With These Stones" (p. 208), tr. Kimon Friar; "Double Condemnation" (pp. 208-209); "Silence", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 209).

From Barriers [Κιγκλίδωμα] (1968-1969), trs. Kimon Friar, N.C. Germanacos, Kostas Myrsiades, Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos: "The Final Obol", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 211); "Tricks", tr. N.C. Germanacos (pp. 211-212); "News Report", trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos (p. 212); "Roughly Square" (pp. 212-213); "Last Will and Testament" (p. 213), tr. N.C. Germanacos; "The Ready Man" (p. 213); "Blood", "The Tightrope Walker" (p. 214), trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos; "The Craftsman", tr. Kimon Friar; "One Word", tr. Kostas Myrsiades (p. 215); "Renaissance", tr. Kimon Friar (p. 216).

From Repetitions [Επαναλήψεις] (1968-1969), trs. Kimon Friar & Karelisa Hartigan; N.C. Germanacos, Thanasis Maskaleris, Kostas Myrsiades, Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos: "The Graves of Our Ancestors" (p. 217); "After the Defeat" (p. 218), trs. Kimon Friar & Karelisa Hartigan; "Alcméne", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 219); "The Apples of the Hesperides I" (pp. 219-220); "The Apples of the Hesperides II" (p. 220), trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos; "After the Breakdown of the Treaty between the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians" (pp. 221-222); "The New Dance" (p. 222), trs. Kimon Friar & Karelisa Hartigan; "Philomel", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 223); "Niobe" (pp. 223-224); "The Golden Fleece" (p. 224), trs. Kimon Friar & Karelisa Hartigan; "Talos" (p. 225); "Achilles after Death" (pp. 225-226), tr. N.C. Germanacos; "Penelope's Despair", tr. Kostas Myrsiades (p. 226); "Marpessa's Selection", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 227); "The Flute-Player", trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos (pp. 227-228); "The Actual Cause", tr. Kostas Myrsiades (p. 228); "The Conjunction 'or'" (pp. 228-229); "The Models" (pp. 229-230), tr. Kimon Friar; "Memorial Service at Poros", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 230); "To Orpheus", tr. Thanasis Maskaleris (pp. 230-231).

Agamemnon [Αγαμέμνων] (1966-1970), trs. Philip Pastras & George Pilitsis (pp. 233-247).

From Gestures [Χειρονομίες] (1969-1970), trs. N.C. Germanacos, Minas Savvas: "New Pretexts", "Slight Ailment", tr. Minas Savvas (p. 249); "Spinelessly", "Generalization of Distrust" (p. 250); "Departures I", "Departures II" (p. 251); "Departures III" (p. 252); "The Fate of the Observer" (pp. 252-253), tr. N.C. Germanacos.

From Corridor and Stairs [Διάδρομος και σκάλα] (1970), trs. N.C. Germanacos, Minas Savvas: "Only" (p. 255); "The Unhidden" (pp. 255-256); "What's the Use?" (pp. 256-257); "Inevitably" (p. 257); "Compromises" (pp. 257-258); "Why the Question?" (p. 258); "Charioteer 1970", "Indiscriminately" (p. 259); "The Same Meaning" (p. 260); "The Unacceptable" (pp. 260-261); "The Biased Man" (p. 261); "The Fundamentals" (pp. 261-262); "Perforation" (p. 262); "Memorial Services" (pp. 262-263); "In the Old Garden" (p. 263); "Shelters", tr. N.C. Germanacos; "Calculated Behavior", tr. Minas Savvas (p. 264); "Corridor", "Normal Occurrence" (p. 265); "Provincial Spring", "Whitewash" (p. 266); "Experiences", "The Stairs" (p. 267), tr. N.C. Germanacos.

Helen [Ελένη] (1970), trs. Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos (pp. 269-289).

From The Wall in the Mirror [Ο τοίχος μέσα στον καθρέφτη] (1967-1971), trs. Andonis Decavalles, N.C. Germanacos: "Exultation" (p. 291); "Mutual Concessions" (pp. 291-292); "Unfamiliar Instrument", "Moderation" (p. 292); "Our Land", "Need to Express" (p. 293); "Wax Dummies", tr. Andonis Decavalles; "Evening Procession" (p. 294); "Return", tr. N.C. Germanacos; "Dangers" (p. 295); "The Yard", tr. Andonis Decavalles; "Presence", tr. N.C. Germanacos (p. 296); "Invention of the Center", "Not Even" (p. 297); "The Secret Pain of the Decor", "Forbidden Ground" (p. 298); "Inevitables" (pp. 298-299), tr. Andonis Decavalles.

Hints [Νύξεις] (1970-1971), tr. Kimon Friar (pp. 301-306).

From The Caretaker's Desk [Θυρωρείο] (1971), tr. Kimon Friar: "Known Consequences" (p. 307); "Nocturnal Episode" (pp. 307-308); "Wells and People" (p. 308); "Forged Passport" (p. 309); "Strange Times" (pp. 309-310); "Deterioration" (p. 310); "The Uncompromising" (pp. 310-311); "Honesty" (p. 311); "Reverential Comparison", "The Other Precision" (p. 312); "Encounter", "The Relation of the Unrelated" (p. 313).

From Sidestreet [Πάροδος] (1971-1972), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "The Laugh", "In the Rain" (p. 315); "Multidimensional", "Ethography" (p. 316); "Condensation" (pp. 316-317); "Simple Honesty" (p. 317).

Belfry [Κωδωνοστάσιο] (1972), trs. Kimon Friar & Kostas Myrsiades (pp. 319-329). Notes (p. 330).

From Scripture of the Blind [Γραφή Τυφλού] (1972-1973), trs. Kimon Friar & Kostas Myrsiades: "Ultimate Innocence" (p. 331); "Without a Mirror Now" (pp. 331-332); "Naked Face" (p. 332); "Wisdom" (p. 333); "Lack of Will Power" (pp. 333-334); "Uncertain Obligations" (p. 334); "At the Harbor's Edge", "Midnight Stroll" (p. 335); "Liturgical", "Eyewitness" (p. 336); "Transposition", "Real Hands" (p. 337); "Stages of Ignorance", "The Meaning of Art" (p. 338); "The Undressing of the Hanged Man" (p. 339); "After a Settlement of Debts" (pp. 339-340); "The Other Man" (p. 340); "Common Miracles", "Like a Prayer" (p. 341); "Hues of a Cloud", "Extinction" (p. 342); "Gradually Stripped Bare", "Bloodletting" (p. 343); "Imitation of an Imitation", "Indications" (p. 344); "Witnesses Everywhere", "The Earth's Attraction" (p. 345); "There", "Exonerated" (p. 346); "The Statue in the Café" (pp. 346-347); "1972" (p. 347); "The Eyes of the Statue" (p. 348).

From Paper Poems [Χάρτινα] (1970-1974), trs. N.C. Germanacos, Gwendolyn MacEwen & Nikos Tsingos: from Paper Poems I (pp. 349-351); from Paper Poems II (pp. 351-354); from Paper Poems III (pp. 355-356).

From The Distant [Το μακρινό] (1975), trs. Edmund Keeley, Kostas Myrsiades: "Sluggishly", "Descent" (p. 357); "Small Dialogue", "Almost Complete", "Exhibits" (p. 358); "Thanksgiving", tr. Kostas Myrsiades; "Striding Over", "The More Sufficient" (p. 359); "The Statues in the Cemeteries", "The Distant" (p. 360), tr. Edmund Keeley.

From Monovasia [Μονοβασιά] (1974-1976), trs. Kimon Friar & Kostas Myrsiades: "I. Monovasia" (p. 361); "IV. The Dead" (pp. 361-362); "VII. Remembrances" (p. 362); "IX. Deceptive Discoveries", "XII. Geographic Origins" (p. 363); "XIII. Inside the Rust", "XVI. Coins" (p. 364); "XX. Items of Identification" (p. 365); "XXI. Time" (pp. 365-366); "XXVIII. White" (p. 366); "XXXV. Finishing Touch", "XXXVI. Leaving Monovasia" (p. 367). Notes (p. 368).

From So? [Λοιπόν;] (1976), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "6", "12", "15" (p. 369), "21", "25", "32" (p. 370), "40" (pp. 370-371), "46", "60" (p. 371).

From The World Is One [Ο κόσμος είναι ένας] (1978-1980), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "Doubtful Encounters" (p. 373); "Morning in Salerno, IV" (pp. 373-374); "Immobilizing the Boundless" (p. 374); "Encounters", "Vatican Museum" (p. 375).

From Erotica [Τα ερωτικά] (1980-1981) [tr. Kimon Friar]: "Carnal Word": "I" (p. 377), "II" (pp. 377-378), "III" (p. 378), "IV" (pp. 378-379), "V" (p. 379), "VI" (p. 380), "VII" (pp. 380-381), "VIII" (pp. 381-382), "IX" (pp. 382-383), "X" (pp. 383-384), "XI" (pp. 384-385), "XII" (pp. 385-386).

From 3x111 Tristichs [3Χ111 Τρίστιχα] (1982), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: from First Series: "3", "5", "6", "9", "10", "12", "17" (p. 387), "26", "37", "64", "80", "84", "92"; from Second Series: "14", "26" (p. 388), "52", "61", "63", "80", "104"; from Third Series: "101" (p. 389).

From Correspondences [Ανταποκρίσεις] (1985), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "Those Years", "Hearing" (p. 391); "It Exists", "An Acrobat", "They" (p. 392); "Bitter Knowledge" (p. 393).

From Slowly, Very Slowly in the Night [Αργά πολύ αργά μέσα στη νύχτα] (1988), tr. Kostas Myrsiades: "Inertia", "Same as Always" (p. 395); "Cardplayers", "Snowy Weather" (p. 396); "'Perhaps'" (pp. 396-397); "The Nails", "Unjustly" (p. 397); "Distinct Motion", "Alterations" (p. 398); "The Black Boat" (p. 399).

The Translators (pp. 401-403); Yannis Ritsos: A Biographical Note (pp. 405-406).

The book includes the following essays: Kimon Friar, "The Short Poems of Yannis Ritsos" (pp. 407-446). Kostas Myrsiades, "The Long Poems of Yannis Ritsos" (pp. 447-467). Also: "Yannis Ritsos: A Chronological Index of Published and Selected Unpublished Work" (pp. 469-480).

Illustrations of twenty-four stones painted by Yannis Ritsos.