Open by appointment only

When I heard the door bell chime and someone closing the
door, I realized I must have fallen asleep. I was sitting in
the back room of my second hand book shop, the open
Cavafy book in my lap.

I walked out in the shop and greeted my first customer this
beautiful September afternoon. My shop is in a small alley
just behind the church, it’s not easy to find and as I’m open
only two days a week and two hours in the afternoon –
customers are rare.

I started the bookstore on this small Greek island when I
retired, I spend some time in it as I have my studio in the
back room – a room that is flooding in the light from the
Greek sun through the roof windows. Up the wooden stairs is
a small terrace where I keep an easel and my acrylic paints.

When the customer left I sat down again with my Cavafy,
and I felt how tired I was after the long lunch with my wife at
Lulu’s tavern.

When I woke up again I was back in Stockholm: it was dark
outside and when I looked out the window I saw there was
snow on the streets.

The computer was on and I understood that I’d better
finish the tax declaration that I’d begun before I
started daydreaming.

Dimitris Mitropanos in Plaka

(inspired by the poem Bacchic, by C.P. Cavafy)


Weary of the crowded streets of Plaka, in a small
music club just next door from Brettos, I am offered
a table in the back of the room;
please, give me one Amstel to drink.

Here I feel far from tourists and shops and taverns; it
is late, almost midnight and they serve dinners and
expensive drinks in the club;
please, give me one more Amstel to drink.

The band starts (bouzoukis, guitar, flute, drummers,
bass and accordion) and Mitropanos comes on and
starts singing; not waiting for applause or cheers;
please, give me one more Amstel to drink.

There is short applause after each song but the singer
starts almost at once with a new one; not at all the
sentimental style I was expecting:
please, give me one more Amstel to drink.

“Rosa”, (the song that was like a national anthem
some years ago) makes the crowd cheer, but I, the
lone man from Sweden, am the most excited;
please, give me one more Amstel to drink.

Three singers join Mitropanos on stage and they take
turns with songs; for three hours the show goes on,
without any break or pause;
please, give me one more Amstel to drink.

Walking the quiet streets of Plaka back to my hotel,
it’s three o’clock in the morning. I am tired but I did
find happiness, delight, joy and exaltation:
in the wonderful music and the beer.