I fear

Manolis Anagnostakis

Anagnostakis, M., I Fear, in Hel. Gris, “The Ink Cries Out: November 17, 1973 in Literature”, Metaihmio, Athens, 2003.

One of the most representative poems of the Metapolitefsi (the regime change period) and the prevailing climate in Greek society, following the shift in the political landscape -after the fall of the dictatorship (1974) and the right-wing governments of New Democracy (1974–1981)- and the rise to power of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). M. Anagnostakis writes this poem during the tenth anniversary of the uprising of the Polytechnic University, lambasting the opportunism of those who suddenly pretend to be progressive in order to secure their position in the new state of affairs. The poet employs the iconic figure of Maria Farantouri, who, at just 19 years old in 1967, became the Voice of Resistance abroad, initially on her own (1967–1970) and later alongside Theodorakis, when he escaped to Paris in 1970. In this manner, Anagnostakis denounces in the sharpest way the weaponization of a symbol by opportunists and their belated political consciousness.

The poem was published in the November 27th issue of “Avgi” and was later included in the –dedicated to the Polytechnic uprising– collective anthology of poetry and prose “The Ink Cries Out”, edited by the poet Helias Gris.

I Fear

I fear
the people who for seven years
pretended they hadn’t noticed a thing
and one fine morning -in the middle of some July-
they came out into the squares
waving little flags, shouting:
“Give the Junta to the people”.
I fear the people
whose own nest is in a mess
and who are now trying to find flaws in yours.
I fear the people
who used to shut the door in your face,
lest you might give them coupons,
and now you see them at the Polytechnic,
laying carnations and shedding tears.
I fear the people
who filled the taverns
and smashed plates at the bouzoukia
every single night
and now they smash them again
when they are struck by the longing for Farantouri
and they even have “opinions”.
I fear the people
who switched sidewalks whenever they ran into you
and now they taunt you
because, they say,
you are not keeping to the straight and narrow.
I fear, I fear so many people.
This year I feared even more.