The Miracle of Greece (Satis Shroff)

THE MIRACLE OF GREECE (Satis Shroff)

The Greeks are getting euros

To stay in line to get money

From the bankcomat.

A measly 60 euros a day,

For a whole family.

In the streets of Greece a refusal

To pay the Odius Debt makes the rounds.

The debt was imposed on Athens,

Not to help its people but to run banks.

A breakfast for 5 euros:

A toast bread costs 1,45 euros,

Feta cheese for 3,49 euros,

A liter juice for 1,18 euros.

A coffee for 2,50 euros.

Old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

A taxi in Athens?

68 cents per kilometer.

Petrol costs 1,57 euros per liter.

If Athens bails out,

Would it be the disintegration of Europe?

A referendum is professed to throw light:

If it's a no,

Tsipras and Varofakis want to resign.

Ah, it's time for lunch:

Another 7 euros.

A pound of paste for 86 cents,

A tomato sauce to go with it 99 cents.

Eating at home for 3 euros,

Eating out costs almost 10 euros.

This is the epoch of populists:

In France, Britain, Poland, Denmark and Catalonia

But not all Greeks are leftists from the days of Theodorakis,

And a good many will opt for the Eurozone.

Greece has a lot of islands

But no Greek is an island.

The fiery, one-sided speeches

Have only muddled the thoughts.

A one-room apartment in Athens?

280 euros per month.

A daily cost of 15 euros.

A day in Athens?

Between 30 to 50 euros.

People in Athens speak 'the Greek miracle.'

The miracle of greece is a humanised world,

People freed from the paralysing fear

Of an omnipotent Troika.

What does the average Greek earn?

Circa 700 euros netto.

Will Tsipras, the new Odysseus,

Ban the fearsome spirits

Of Europa from Greece?

All we can do is wait,

And drink tea.