quiver's review against another edition
4.0
Ritsos’ poems speak intimately, as dreams. As in our dreams, here, too, one is a spectator. Much in his poetry speaks of the ordinary, the prosaic: thus, the two—the dream, the prosaic—are merged. There is also a strain, a tension: a shadow of war, politics, death, poverty, prison. A shadow, and not the thing. Ritsos shows rather than tells, and this means we must read patiently and kindly, in order to see the word behind the word. His poems seem to me as a kind of inventory. A reminder that the ordinary, which encompasses our lives, is mythical, and luminous with meaning.
pinars's review against another edition
5.0
Ritsos' poems are always a treat and the translation is pretty good (though, of course, more or less missing the lyrical quality of Greek.) This will most likely remain in my 'currently reading' shelf for a while; one does not read poetry as one reads an Agatha Christie novel.
yourvillainoriginstory's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I had a more commanding knowledge of Ancient Greek texts, less bc I think Ancient Greek texts are so interesting but more Bc Ritsos brilliantly Re renders these ancient stories and characters, giving new life to these usually exhausted myths, pushing the bounds of Greek literature and all poetry.
_cristina's review against another edition
4.0
In the wild wind
high, high,
from the height of the whitest gull –
freedom.
high, high,
from the height of the whitest gull –
freedom.
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