Nα Eίσαι Kαλά

Donna Lee

When she says something seemingly

Incredulous, to him, he responds,

“Na είσαι καλά;” which translates, literally,

“May you be well?” which she interprets as

“Are you well?” meaning, “Are you crazy?”

But it’s a nicer way to

Say it. Better than “Eίσαι τρελή;”

Which can be off-putting or even

Rude. But

“Na είσαι καλά;” is a direct reference

To one’s health or, rather, well-being.

“Well” or “καλά” being in the sentence

Itself. “Eísai καλά;” rather

Than “Na είσαι καλά;” would be a little more

Forceful, almost, but not quite, akin

To “Are you well?” But “Na” gives a little more

Space, like a breath, as if the speaker

Wanted to give you that breath . . . so

That perhaps you could reconsider?

How nice to give someone space, for

Space is like a lover of what is free,

Perhaps your mind, when it needs to be.

“If you will be well, I’ll give you the space to be well,”

Like an opening, which allows you to step back

And regroup your thoughts. If only we all could get

“Right” so easily. Now

He’s made her think. And she concludes

She was correct. And

Just maybe he is the one who is not so, well, balanced

In his thoughts, and so she says, “Δεν είσαι καλά.” Which now

Is more “You are not correct” rather than “You are not well,”

Which is really what she said,

But you get the point.

Author Bio

Donna J. Gelagotis Lee is the author of two award-winning collections, Intersection on Neptune (The Poetry Press of Press Americana, 2019), winner of the Prize Americana for Poetry 2018, and On the Altar of Greece (Gival Press, 2006), winner of the Seventh Annual Gival Press Poetry Award and recipient of a 2007 Eric Hoffer Book Award: Notable for Art Category. Her poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals internationally, including Apofenie, Cimarron Review, Feminist Studies, The Massachusetts Review, Mediterranean Poetry, Southern Humanities Review, and Women’s Studies Quarterly. www.donnajgelagotislee.com