Translated from the modern Greek with an introduction by Kimon Friar and Kostas Myrsiades. Monovasia, as is called by the demoticists, and Monemvasia by the purists, is a town and island promontory on the Argolic Bay some four hundred meters from land on the southeastern Peloponnesus. Here Yannis Ritsos was born on May 1, 1909. In this book the poet celebrates the women of his birthplace, young and old, housekeepers and warriors who keep sleepless sentry before their homes and embrace life with courage.