NIE! "Maria Nephele" by Odysseus Elytis

Title: Maria Nephele: A Poem In Two Voices

Author: Odysseus Elytis

Translator: Athan Anagnostopoulos

While, once again, perusing the stacks at the UT Knoxville library, I cam across a section reserved for Modern Greek, among which the popular poet Odysseus Elytis appeared to have a nearly a full shelf. He did, after all, win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1979. Although he is well known for his work Axion Esti,I chose to read Maria Nephele due to its fascinating structure. And it certainly wasn’t disappointing.


The poetry is divided into three parts, each section containing a prologue and epilogue. There are two distinct voices: Maria’s and the Antiphonist*, or the poet. The reader will find Maria’s poem and the Antiphonist’s poems to mirror each other, sometimes merely on the page, and sometimes in structure. At the end of each poem is a final line, a thought that resounds like the closing line of a hymn. Each poem set is distinctly different as well. While many are written in free verse, traditional forms are used, as well as original, elaborate rhyme schemes.

Just as the structure for each set is complex, the content delivers its own intricacies. Maria Nephele is presented as the youthful voice for revolution, which finds its place in nature, among the chaos of the times, the voice that struggles against violence and uncertainty. The poet struggles with his unpopularity, with his art. Their poems, however, do not address each other’s grievances directly, as they are monologues. In addition, Elytis employs various languages such as French and German, as well as references to numerous artists and art works. According to the translator, Anagnostopoulos, the original text makes use of even various forms of Greek (listed as Homeric, Heraclitean, Platonic and New Testament Greek).

Image from Θεοδοσία Βασιλείου

The work is less than 70 pages, the reading is fast-boring-tumultuous. I would often find myself reading a poem, only to reach the final line and to immediately desire a rereading. Then, after reading the opposite poem, I may read the first again. Although brief, Maria Nephele a vibrant work. One can’t help but seeing the current chaos of today between the lines of the political/historical poems. And I imagine every reader might see themselves in the poet, as I would say most people have struggle with a lack of popularity - either for themselves or for their work.

As the days remain cold (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere), I would suggest ordering a copy of the book online – you probably won’t find it in your local bookshop – and curl up in preferred reading space. Take some time to enjoy the sound of the words, read the poems out loud if possible, and mediate on them. This is certainly the kind of book one should savor, rather than speed through.

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* Antiphonist – a person who sings a hymn, verse or prayer in alternate parts, responding to another voice.

Looking for another book? Check out Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges. Otherwise buy Maria Nephele on Amazon!