The period of thirty-nine months covered by the seventh volume, from the autumn of 1956 to the end of 1960, was not particularly productive for the poet. His continuous involvement with the Cyprus issue and his service routine consumed valuable time and drained his reserves of endurance, concentration, and creative disposition.

Some drafts of poems, a few translation attempts, the completion of the transcription of the Song of Songs, the preparation for the second edition of the Essays, and his collaboration with Rex Warner for the new, more comprehensive English edition of his poems constitute the entirety of Seferis's literary activity during the years 1957-1960.

[Excerpt from the text of the preface]