Ktieb gdid ta' Mario Azzopardi

Mario Azzopardi ghadu kemm hareg gabra ta' rakkonti gdida: L-Ahhar Granet ta' Ciorni u rakkonti ohra.
Ara dan il-link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR7K2XqbsJ8

Give a book as a present for Christmas

Una poesia natalizia da Amerigo Iannacone

NATALE STRANO


Sogno un Natale strano

senza neon alieni

ma solo con la luce delle stelle

senza rumori rudi

ma solo con la musica del vento

senza doni in scatole di plastica

ma solo con il dono dell’amore

e un manto bianco

che protegga il grano

in erba

e nel camino antico la poesia

di un grosso ceppo scoppiettante

che ti fa compagnia.



Amerigo Iannacone

POTIS KATRAKIS - more poetry from Greece

My Greek friend, poet and translator Zacharoula Gaitanaki, recently sent me a new poetry collection from Greece: The Unforseen, by Potis Katrakis, published by Lexitipon editions, 2009 (ISBN: 978-960-6823-70-1).

The Unforseen is a collection of 88 concise, well-written and reflective poems. The book has a Forward written by Dr. Shujaat Hussain, who is an Indian prolific book reviewer, poet and critic. The themes discussed by Potis Katrakis are various: the relation between God and mankind, destiny, war and peace, the role of the poet in today's world, the natural environment, power, politics, propaganda and mass-media, old age, youth and the role of education towards a civilised society, dreams and death, real happiness, sincerity, and much more.

The Unforseen is ideal to read bit by bit, say two or three short poems a day, and leave ample time for reflection. Dr. Hussain writes thus about Katrakis's poetry:

"He gives gifts to the world through his poetical philosophy. He leaves something behind for coming generations. His words are roses and the books preserve them, get eternity. He touches the majestic heights due to his sincere efforts and remarkable creations."

Yes, I agree with Dr. Hussain that true poetry is giving and leaving something positive behind.

About Potis Katrakis:

He was born in Demonia of Laconia, vice President of the "Bar Association of Piraeus", a Life Member of the WAAC/World Congress of Poets" (which awarded him the title of Honorary Doctor of Literature), a member of the Academy Ferdinandea (Italy), of the IWA (International Writers Association), of the World Poets Society (WPS), of the National Company of the Greek Writers, and other associations.

Many of his poems have been translated in foreign languages including English, French, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Albanian, Bulgarian, Mongolian and Spanish. He has published more than 200 literary books, and his poems are included in varous national and foreign Anthologies. Katrakis has collections of short stories, theatrical pieces, essays, novels, and a travel book about the Soviet Union. The forms he uses for his poetry are basically traditional, modern and meta-modern, including verses for songs. As a lyric writer he has produced seven compact discs: Equality, Plan of a Meeting, Loves of Sea, Islands Passions, Folkloristic Belly Dances, Love Songs and The Eyes that I Loved.

Potis Katrakis curriculum vitae is included in the Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature of Charis Patsis. Studies about Katrakis are: Potis Katrakis - another voice, an essay by Moschos Kefalas (Athens, 2000), and Potis Katrakis - a prolific writer, a critical essay by Zacharoula Gaitanaki (Athens 2003).

Poetry of Potis Katrakis:

With my Verses

With my verses

sometimes I draw pictures of dreams

to embellish

and to make brilliant the beauty,

sometimes I compose sounds of music

to make the chords of souls

to vibrate delightfully

and sometimes I engrave messages

in the memories of the people

to light their way

to a better future.

With my verses I become

painter, musician, teacher.

The Poets

Prosper those poets

that poetry chooses them

and not those poets

who choose the poetry.

The Great Poets

The great poets

can be equal to gods

and win

even the death

making divine achievement.

The Word of God

To be persuasive

the word of God

must be taught

mainly and firstly

with the example.

The speech by pulpit follow.

Land of the Mediterranean

Land of iridescent light

and colours,

of calm of souls,

of hothouse of dreams,

of the eternal spring

of our feelings.

Land of the Mediterranean.

It's nothing to be surprised

because you were, you are

and you will be

the cradle of Gods, of civilization

and of the music of angels.