This poem is by George Seferis, (Γιώργος Σεφέρης). George Seferis was the pen name of Georgios Seferiadis (1900 -- 1971). He was one of the most important Greek poets of the 20th century, and a Nobel laureate. He was also a career diplomat in the Greek Foreign Service, culminating in his appointment as Ambassador to the UK, a post which he held from 1957 to 1962.
The poem was set to music by the composer Mikis Theodorakis in 1960, sung by Grigoris Bithikotsis in 1962 and became enormously popular..
It is a poem about the inevitable changes that occur in our lives when we have to let go of things we cherish and move on.

English Lyrics (This is a more liberal interpretation of the words to go with the music)

On a beach so hard to find
And white as turtle dove
We thirsted at high noon that day
But water there was brine.

Along the sand of golden hue
'Twas there we wrote her name
A pleasant breeze came blowing near
And washed it all away.

With what heart and spirit then
With passion and such yearning
We lived life so -- but it was wrong
Our lives we had to change.
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Δισκογραφία: Η Νένα Βενετσάνου τραγουδά Χατζιδάκι, Θεοδωράκη, Μαμαγκάκη, Βενετσάνου.

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