Dionysos’ Defence

Greetings to you my pure white judges

I stand before you.

Out with your nails and fires!

the terrible punishment

must emerge from this assembly.

Burn the verses, every magical melody

that carries us to unknown, visionary places.

Greetings to the mighty of this world

I stand before you

Out with your nails and spleen!

like the mountains they hold hard metals

and they make holes in them

and wound their heart 

but the heart slips from their nails and sings.

antistrophe A'

Armies prowl

the summits of Dionysos

to set fires

They want to burn the god

with his brides at his side

and the boys at their dancing.

antistrophe B'

My Dionysos

with your gallant feathers, bold lad

you lead off the procession

my Dionysos, 

look who is following you

Greeks and foreigners.