Poetry
Epitaph
He slipped away from the Paidotribe’s stern gaze
And ran through green meadows, chasing winged souls—
Cicadas, ants, bees, golden beetles.
With them, the Little Soldier held a feast.
And when the wind carried his laughter far,
His Friends’ hearts grew heavy with sorrow.
At every dawn, They wait for him in silence,
Only Their wings singing softly above the marble.
His Mother scratches her cheeks and weeps,
While His Father, tear-stained, bends low,
Listening through the soil for the Child’s breath.
The hum of insects, a pure psalm,
Rises as a gentle hymn to comfort them.
Upon the stone, Anytis carves sacred words:
“Here rests a Child, Kleinias, Son of Melitos.
The small wonders of the Earth—his own army.
A sweet libation to Hades, Bitter-Cheeked, a fleeting life.
Eternally, His Friends will sing his praise.”
Paidotribe: Ancient Greek physical trainer
Eleni Karagianni
Eleni Karagianni is a philologist. She teaches history, ancient Greek language, and literature to high school students, and coordinates creative writing workshops for teenagers. She is the editor-in-chief of the online literary magazine GRAFEIN. She considers writing a form of therapy, and her motto is: "nulla dies sine linea".