Plaka: Engraved in Stone

Fireballs of bougainvillea, 

ablaze in a tangle of magenta flames,

show off their beaming beauty,

putting their partner in green to shame.

 Around the corner, slabs of stone,

in tones of grey and brown and gold,

 

outshine new planks of bold, bright blue
despite being cracked and chipped and old.

After all, the sea and sand and fields

nearby, boast a harmony of these hues,

while a seaside restaurant chooses them

 to allure passersby with appetizing views.

In the distance, the island of Spinalonga, the Venetian fortress that subsequently became a leper colony in 1903.

 Plaka, named for all the stone 

indigenous to this pebbly, coastal place,

 Translation:
'Today, mine. Tomorrow, another's', and although it does 

not appear here, the phrase continues, 'But never, no one's'.

has its history, engraved permanently,

into many a carved and chiselled space.

Thanks for visiting!