A Silent Scream

           Sciopero (Strike)  

       ”A thundering silence... a lion that roars,
        a silent scream which passes the shores…”

Strike.... ''Drop your tools we were told...''

The crane is abandoned through to the ship's hold.
Workers curious, asking what is going on?
The foreman told them, that in the ship “Saint John”,
a Greek sailor was sacked this morning,
and that this strike is a strategic warning..


   Unbelievable what happened, my friend,
       dead the Italian port, from end to end…

       All this for a total stranger,
       although they were running the danger
       of losing their jobs, losing their bread.....

The word strike was everywhere, spread…

A thundering silence, a lion that roars,
a silent scream which passes the shores,
and going downtown, heard by the ears 
                                             of the big shot,
finding the target right on the spot.


    Soon the Greek sailor got his job back…
       The bosses caved to the workers's attack...
       the crane which had hung...

       Suddenly with a sharp tongue,
       the Italianamerican foreman Mike,
       announced to the workers, the end of the strike…
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* Extract from "The Broken Mooring Line", an experiential
poetic work // page c13 // e-mail: pmataragas@yahoo.com //
Texts and Narration: Odysseus Heavilayias - ROTTERDAM //
Language adjustments and text adaptation: Kellene G Safis - CHICAGO//
Digital adaptation and text editing: Cathy Rapakoulia Mataraga - PIRAEUS

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* Lo Sciopero (plural scioperi) is a strike or temporary work stoppage. A sciopero can be national or local and can affect only one sector or many. The most common strikes are local, usually lasting from 4 hours to 1 day. The traveler will most often be affected by transportation strikes, such as train or airline strikes.

The tales of a Greek Sailor