Greek Tragedy

Waiting in line, 
Before the ATM of closed banks for 60 Euros to withdraw under the scourging sun  
Old and invalid people are submitted to this daily torture, constantly moaning, for Our country’s suffering and for our own devastation, 
While twenty-seven percent the unemployment has climbed
Forty percent the salaries and pensions went down and twenty percent the taxes up  
Rendering hundreds of thousands of families poor with no money to feed themselves And their children 
When 
Close to one hundred thousand of our countrymen have attempted suicide of whom Ten thousand, unfortunately, have succeeded in ending their lives only in five years Because of the ruinous austerity measures taken to pay Greece's lenders  

Parthenon, is mourning Democracy's assassination in the place of its birth 
By the mighty creditors that suck the blood out of our veins 
The Greek government in agony has turn to our allies for help to restore our  Economy and thus to prevent the catastrophe that is approaching,
But the creditors, most of them anyway, with Germany leading the way,
To obliterate Greece wish with their unbearable and inhuman terms they have set
As though were our enemies and not our partners, because 
Humanity has been lost in their hearts and only for them the profit counts 

And I, one of the suffering Greeks, that shares the same lot as any,
In anxiety, a few words try to arrange for the tragedy of Greece to illustrate as a New Euripides or Sophocles but to no avail, 
So I am waiting in line under the scourging sun, hoping my turn to come, 
The sixty Euros, if am lucky, to get into my hands before the AMT is empty!




© Demetrios Trifiatis
    15 JULY 2015
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Callus Avatar
July 30, 2015 at 10:37 AM
It is a hard time for Greece and its people. Aptly you title this poem "Greek Tragedy", for so it is; unfortunately it's not stage drama but a real one! I believe that solutions will be found; in the meantime let's hope that the people will stay calm. Take care. // paul
Trifiatis Avatar
July 30, 2015 at 10:43 AM
Well, my friend, Paul, you are right. People must stay calm and we do stay calm. But they cannot stay in line for 60 euros every day when they are 80 and 90 and sick and have no medicine and so on. Unfortunately the worst have not arrived for our politicians care for their parties and not for Greece and its people. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN!
Lindley Avatar
July 18, 2015 at 8:09 AM
Very sad for the plight of Greece my friend. Stay strong and have faith in God. As this too shall pass.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM
Thank you Robert for your words of comfort. Yes, I stay strong and I have faith, as always, and that will pass as everything else in the 5000 years history of our country BUT I cannot overlook the death, and the ruins that this tsunami of Greed has left behind of which the consequences we will see for decades to come Thank you for your concern my friend. God bless you!
Lamoureux Avatar
July 17, 2015 at 8:41 AM
It is good to have this perspective. The news portrays Greece in a non flattering way. When you look closer and include the human toll the underlying reason is usually human greed. Thanks for helping open our eyes, my heart goes out to you and your country people.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 17, 2015 at 1:34 PM
You do not know how much I appreciated your message my friend, Richard! There are a lot of things that went on behind our back here in Greece. The whole thing started as an effort to save the banks of France and of Germany. The IMF has admitted that mistakes have been made and Greece was badly treated but they do not wish to rectify. Thank you so much for being able to detect things better now.
Andresen Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 1:39 PM
- A hopeless tragedy, painful to hear and watch the news on television - Every day must be tiring and comforting solved both for "poor and rich" - You are always in my thoughts dear friend Demetrios - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Trifiatis Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 4:24 PM
Thank you Anne-Lise for your caring words. God bless you!
Bateman Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 4:05 AM
Hello Demetrios My Dear Friend!! Great to hear from you and I'm also quite sad about all of the challenges and difficult times in Greece. My and Ingrid's prayers are with you and hopeful for a most-needed upturn for your country in the future!! After all, Greece is the world's cradle of democracy!! Great to have you back with us My Dear Friend!! Cheers and Best Wishes, Gary
Trifiatis Avatar
July 17, 2015 at 5:46 AM
Mein sehr good freund, Gary, Danke! USA has helped a lot by pushing Merkel to come to an agreement plus the IMF declared that our debt is not viable and should be cut down, however the Germans do not wish this to happen, forgetting that in 1953 all the world had cut their debt by 50% . Thank you again my friend for being there.
Bateman Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 4:23 PM
You and your family continue to be in our prayers Demetrios!! I really hope the IMF and the European Union do the right thing here. Surly they can restructure and forgive some of this horrible debt. We feel particularly bad for the children and the old people. I hope my country, the USA, does something positive too to help!! God Bless, Gary
Trifiatis Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 4:26 AM
So happy to see you again my friend! I am touched by your concern and prayers . God bless you! You cannot imagine the hardships we go through with the banks closed. We cannot get our pensions or salaries, we cannot use our credit cards internationally for the Greek government has annulled them. We cannot travel abroad for we cannot carry with us more than 1000 Euros. Already some medicine is in short supply and we have to wait in endless lines for 60 Euros! I hope that things will eventually change!
Sathasivam Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 2:22 AM
Greek tragedy is a very big tragedy. Sad to hear. Hope it will improve soon. Thanks for sharing.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 4:42 AM
My friend, Ravi, grateful am I for your visit and concern. Never have I witnessed closed banks. I do not wish it to anyone. Greece is flirting with bankruptcy. God forbid it!
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 8:42 PM
Demetrios, this sad really..! I pray that things will go well soon... !~Olive Eloisa =')
Trifiatis Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 12:03 AM
The Greek people and I thank you, O.E.G. for your prayers . We shall prevail as we have done many times the last 5000 years. God bless you my friend!
Meade Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 4:53 PM
Your words pierce my heart -- you have my email, it I can do anything please let me know. Jan is right, this tragedy does not come across in the news media. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 5:23 PM
God bless ylu my friend! Thank you so much for your kind offer but for the moment neither I nor my family is kn need of anything. At this moment the Greek government is voting for to avoid bankruptcy by Monday. Even though we achieve to avoid bankruptcy now , our debt according to IMF, is not viable. I pray and hope all to turn out fine, although this to happen a miracle is needed. Thank you again for caring!
Allison Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Oh Demetrios the news we get on the TV really doesn't begin to show the plight of the people it is really affecting - I pray the situation is resolved soon:-( hugs jan xx
Trifiatis Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 2:31 PM
Thank you, Jan for your prayers. At this moment there is a discussion going on in the Greek parliament to approve austerity measures that tops thirteen billion Euros. By Monday we have to find 4 billions otherwise Greece goes bankrupt. Difficult days are approaching and already medicine becomes scarce plus thousand upon thousands of illegal immigrants are reaching our shores for a better life! God help us! I hope against hope to avoid worse situations.
Enriquez Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 7:36 AM
Dear Demetrios: Been a while since our last chat. Hope U are OK my Greek friend. Yes, even Aristotle would be shocked! and Plato too! Hope that the Greek people will bounce back despite this setback. God bless. Sincerely, Leon.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 7:44 AM
Plato and Aristotle along with Pythagoras and Socrates will turn into their graves observing the " Barbarians" having the upper hand in Greece! Thank you my friend for your concern! God bless you!
Bocsa Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 5:09 AM
I visited your poem and the country of Homer.I will come back. Signed:Hope.
Trifiatis Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 7:11 AM
Thank you and welcome my new friend, Ovidiou, for your hopeful meassage!
Smith Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 3:54 AM
This is so sad my friend. If there is anything you need just say the word....God bless you Tim
Trifiatis Avatar
July 15, 2015 at 4:18 AM
God bless you my friend for the thought but I do not need anything! I have been through worst situations in my life. What scares me though is the thoughtof civil unrest and probable frictions with our neighbors.
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