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Poetry
by Chris Zachariou
United Kingdom


Τάκης Ζαχαρίου

Ποιήματα

Γιαλούσα, Κύπρος

Writer's pictureChris Zachariou

A Century of Sleep | Cyprus Poems


I. I buried my songs in a wooden hut

and in the shade of scented candles I saw the Trisagion grieve in the young girl's tears. It's so hard for me to bear this burden. Who will still weep for her in forty days from now? It’s far too soon to ask me such questions— I want to wait for dusk and for the kind priest. II. I have about me the scent of spikenard and basil and the holy father chained me to the cantor's solemn voice. I don't want to hear the cantor’s voice anymore. The cantor's stifled eulogy disturbs my sleep. I don't want to hear the church bells' sombre beat. The wailing of the bells disturbs my sleep. My eyelids are heavy with feasting beetles.

I want to wrap around me a century and a night of silence and sleep beyond the words and all the noise of the cantor's chants.


Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses


A few words about the poem…


A Century of Sleep | Reflections on Death and Grief | Cyprus Poems

 

In “A Century of Sleep,” the poet offers a solemn meditation on the contrasting experiences of mourning and transcendence. This death and grief poem, part of the “Thirteen Silk Verses” within Cyprus Poems, presents both the bereaved lover’s and the deceased girl’s perspectives, revealing the silent interplay of sorrow, memory, and acceptance.

 

The first part follows the grieving lover as he grapples with the enormity of his loss. Seeking solace, he buries his songs—a metaphor for his deepest memories—in a wooden hut, a place where they will remain unsullied and untouched by the world, dimly lit by the wavering glow of candlelight. Within this space, his grief mirrors the ancient Trisagion liturgy, each word laden with the depth of his sorrow. As he contemplates the young girl’s passing, he senses the weight of his burden, wondering who will weep for her after the forty days of mourning have ended. His pain is raw, unyielding, a testament to his love and the isolation of his grief. Yet, he hesitates to fully confront his sorrow, hoping instead for the quiet arrival of dusk and the gentle guidance of the priest, a figure symbolic of compassion and communal solace.

 

The second part shifts to the imagined perspective of the deceased girl herself, who begins to make peace with her new existence beyond the world of the living. Shrouded in the soothing scent of basil and spikenard, she grows weary of the rituals that once brought solace. The cantor’s solemn eulogy, once a profound voice of parting, now disturbs her rest. She no longer seeks the rhythmic toll of church bells; their mourning tone no longer belongs to her realm. She longs to leave behind the chants, the ritualised farewells, and instead embrace an eternity of silence. Wrapping herself in the quiet of a “century and a night,” she moves beyond words and noise, toward the tranquillity she now yearns for.

 

The dual voices in “A Century of Sleep” capture the universal tension between loss and acceptance. The lover’s sorrow clings to the memories and moments that death could not erase, while the deceased girl reaches towards a place of peace, leaving behind the earthly sounds that once bound her. Together, these voices explore a deeply personal yet universal experience, embodying the enduring nature of love even as it finds release in quiet repose.

 

 

Analysis of the Themes in the Poem

 

“A Century of Sleep” explores the themes of grief, separation, and the gradual journey towards acceptance. The lover’s grief represents a human impulse to cling to memory and connection, while the deceased girl's perspective allows a glimpse into release and acceptance. These themes highlight the complex transition from loss to peace, suggesting that love endures beyond life, finding its own form of solace.

 

Analysis of the Verse

 

The poem’s verse flows with rhythmic introspection, inviting readers into the private worlds of grief and rest. Its structure mirrors the divided perspectives, shifting tone and diction to reflect the shift from human sorrow to a transcendental calm. Each line is carefully measured, emphasising the solemnity of the lover’s mourning and the serenity of the girl’s acceptance, creating a sense of narrative progression and emotional depth.

 

Analysis of the Symbolism

 

Symbols of scent, candlelight, and prayer create a tactile world around the lover’s grief, grounding his sorrow in sensory rituals. The Trisagion, the scent of spikenard, and the cantor’s voice symbolise the boundary between the physical and spiritual realms. The “century and a night” symbolises eternity, portraying death as a continuum, a place where words and earthly attachments dissolve into silence.

 

Main Poetic Imagery

 

The imagery of “A Century of Sleep” is imbued with a solemn beauty. Candlelight and shadows cast the lover’s grief in a softened light, while the girl’s imagery is grounded in silence and natural scents. Together, these images contrast the intimate act of mourning with the quietude of release, creating a landscape where love, memory, and acceptance coexist.

 

Impact of Religious Symbolism

 

Religious symbols—such as the Trisagion, the cantor, and church bells—add layers of ritual and solemnity to the lover’s mourning. These elements serve as bridges to the divine, easing the transition between life and death. For the deceased girl, however, these symbols become a reminder of her past life, a noise to be left behind as she steps into a peaceful eternity, underscoring the poem’s contrast between worldly grief and transcendence.


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