While others are wintering, to put it mildly
Listen to what the officer did.
He installed fans and air conditioners
inside the greenhouse and in poultry.
Why should the little ones suffer, he thought;
He said that they should live like other royal children.
So, our chickens have air condition
even though our politicians take bribes and commission.
Let the Koutofrancos see how they love animals
the Greeks, and basically they are innocent creatures.
Let all those who consider us fools hear this;
Even with our chickens, we are homeowners!
So, money exists today and then.
There's a lot of money, so let the chickens have money too.
CHOICES of Paphos 23/6/12
This poem has all the characteristics of political-social satire that is strongly reminiscent of Souris' style: cheerful rhyme, inventive wordplay, and a "sweet" irony that hides harsh criticism.
Some first observations:
-
Scenario: The occasion is a real (or probably real) incident — an officer who takes care to place air condition and fans in a chicken coop and greenhouse, even with "free electricity from the PPC".
-
Contrast: On the one hand, affection for animals is presented as an excessive luxury (royal chickens and chickens are royalty), on the other, the irony that humans suffer while poultry enjoy "comforts".
-
Social commentary: The second half turns from the isolated incident to a general critique — bribes, "commission"of politicians, the image of Greeks abroad, and the old political slogan "there is money" which here is transformed into "money, let the chickens be there too."
-
Language & rhythm: Tight fifteen-syllable rhymes with effortless rhymes ("animals - innocent", "housekeepers - landlords"), with frequent use of puns and everyday expressions.
-
Satirical function: The comedy arises from the reversal of expectations — where we would expect waste on luxurious human goods, we have waste on… chickens, but the irony is twofold: in reality, the satirist is targeting Greek public waste and political corruption.
1Literary Analysis
The poem moves in a traditional fifteen-syllable satire, with simple, everyday vocabulary and deliberate introductions of English words ("air condition","commission») for humorous counterpoint.
The structure is hierarchical: it begins with the paradoxical event (air condition to the chickens), then describes the incident and the alleged intentions, and concludes with a generalized political commentary.
-
Rhythm: The fifteen-syllable poem maintains the traditional, almost sing-song tone, which lends familiarity to the reader.
-
Irony & Hyperbole: Chickens are proclaimed "royal chickens" and their care is presented as patriotic proof of civilization.
-
Intertextuality: The last stanza directly refers to the well-known political slogan "There is money" by George Papandreou, which is here sarcastically varied.
The language and style bring to mind Souris and Papageorgiou, but with a contemporary socio-political focus.
2. Interpretive Commentary / Essay
The poem relies on a symbolic reversal: instead of condemning the waste of resources, the role of the "proud householder" who takes care of his chickens is ironically adopted.
Satire strikes on three levels:
-
Micro-event: The officer who puts air condition in poultry, it symbolizes the irrational use of public resources.
-
Big picture: This act is linked to the generalized corruption and "bribes" of politicians, with a clear allusion to the Greek political class.
-
International dimension: The poem is also addressed to the "Chickens", that is, the Europeans who often criticize Greece for waste and corruption - but here the irony is that "at least we take care of our chickens".
The finale, with "money to the chickens", is doubly sharp: on the one hand, it parodies the political rhetoric about the abundance of resources, on the other hand, it suggests that money is wasted on meaningless or provocative uses.
The use of bestiality as a pretext for self-promotion or political advocacy is clearly a nail in the coffin of superficial civility when real society is being tested.
3. Painting (Satirical Illustration)
A caricature-style scene: a luxury chicken coop with air condition on the wall, fans, small beds with covers for the hens, and they themselves wearing crowns or jewelry like "royal chicks".
In one corner, a uniformed officer proudly holds an air conditioner remote control, while behind him a banner reads “There is Money.” In the background, a coffee shop where citizens are protesting about their electricity bills.
photo by EyeEm, Image license by freepik.com
