by Jazra Khaleed
translated from the Greek by Jason Rigas
4.
calmness not silence reigns supreme
the buzz of a wandering bee the squawk of seagulls
the waves frothy like lambs on a hillside
patient urns on aegean window sills
aegean people operate on a more humble level
basking in the locals’ genuine hospitality
they don’t even expect anything in return for a hello
a sense of calm, and an eternal conversation
nonstop fun and relaxation
the local hospitality and the breathtaking scenery are what memories are made of
a place that has withstood the test of time unchanged
injecting a fresh sense of optimism and camaraderie into the greeks’ eternal maritime adventure
so that local residents can monitor who gets to travel
they come from syria, afghanistan, and eritrea
according to the german press
5.
cradle of western civilization
a springboard for sharpening the senses and exercising the mind
many hidden secrets
patient urns on aegean
crystal clear waters with every shade of blue and green
a haven for authenticity addicts and low-profile travelers alike
visitors aren’t keen to show off their wealth or even announce themselves
they love water sports, sailing, yachting, cruises
they attempt to cross the aegean, hoping to reach the european union
the coast guard vessels dangerously maneuver themselves into a position to block their entrance
in tandem with both army and navy ships
flitting through the blossoming waves
interception procedures have taken up to 12 or 14 hours
on orders to intercept inflatable rafts with
(stock image)
6.
islands picturesque yet distinct, where visitors experience unforgettable moments even during the shortest of stays
basking in the locals’ genuine hospitality
gulet type schooners remain a fantastic option
the presence of women and children has increased over the last 24 hours
they attempt to cross the aegean, hoping to reach the european union
their hair unravels deep into the future
a german frigate nearby transports the commander of the nato fleet
on orders to prevent the boat from entering greek waters
coast guard and navy ships alike have been briefed on interception tactics, such as blockading and the use of flares
frontex is carefully monitoring the situation
the local hospitality and the breathtaking scenery are what memories are made of
never once deviating from the interception playbook they’ve adopted
nights they work in shifts, keeping constant watch over maritime borders
a rapidly evolving situation, with sudden changes anticipated
it’s a magical world this polynesian aegean
* Revolving Doors, a poem in 36 parts, follows, with some deviations, the structure of Nanni Balestrini’s Blackout (Rome: DeriveApprodi, 2001).
A list of sources used in this cut-up and the pattern of their usage is available here; the poet’s introduction to the work is available here.
Barricade is publishing the first 16 poems in the series on our web forum Ramparts throughout the month of August; the full 36-poem sequence will be available as a print zine in September 2024. Revolving Doors will also be published in THE LIGHT THAT BURNS US, an expanded anthology of Khaleed’s work forthcoming from World Poetry Books on October 10. Pre-order at worldpoetrybooks.com.