IOANNIS KARAJOLI

IOANNIS KARAJOLI

MY BELOVED HOMELAND

I love you

even from a distance. I look at you

with the falcon’s vision that looks backwards.

I live with the scents of your beautiful past I borrow the spring

that looks like your own so as to feel

at home

even for a little while. Half of me

is a bird

that flies into your sky at night,

to protect you

from any mysterious enemy of yours. My other half

is a skeleton

that lives in Europe.

He borrows your traditional clothes

to use as a blanket and as a protection against the cold winter and the foreign land. In the evenings I walk by the seashore

gazing at scenes from Latakia, Tartus and Banias.

The sea breeze brings me that scent of the sea

and the sweet-smelling jasmine of our evenings.

I can still hear

the neighbours’ and the old men’s chats.

I can still hear the noise of the worry beads

that the old man deftly plays between his fingers under the street post

and suddenly I long  to run towards my home

to my parents’ arms.

A SONG FROM MY HOMELAND*

My brothers Moroccans who live in historical Paris! You brought me the aura

of my beloved homeland

with your fresh magical melodies. I loved you as if I had known you since my childhood.

You are the magic of the Orient, that crowns the West.

Your song is a melody that shines in our hearts! We congratulate and

love your country!

I hope I’ll always meet you and listen, even for a while, to your charming voices!

That I will enjoy your melodies and smiles!

RENDEZ-VOUS WITH THE MOON

*Dedicated to the French – Moroccan band “El Haja”.

The moon showed up magically

lightening

my backyard revealing

its hidden and beautiful spots! Suddenly,

the moon smiles, saying: “I brought you spring,

my glow sweetens you and blesses

your warm summer nights”!

IOANNIS KARAJOLI

IOANNIS KARAJOLI: Is a Greek poet, born in Syria on 09/01/1951 in Efrin city , north from Aleppo. His family is of Kurdish origin. He spent his early childhood in the city of Efrin where his father served as e Prefect. His mother, Amina Seicho, was a gifted and charismatic woman ,with numerous artistic qualities . His father, Adnan Karajoli, was a writer- lawyer who fought for the rights of the beloved Syrian people .In the spring of 1955 the Karajoli family was relocated to Damascus , where they had previously resided. He had the opportunity to study in beautiful Romania, at the Bucharest Dentistry School and he finished his studies by acquiring the specialty of Orthodontist. After he completed his course of studies, he had the opportunity to visit Greece, after being invited by his Greek fellow students . Since then, 34 years of creative work have passed, delving in the area of orthodontics and literature. He is a founding member of a Greek association for Orthodontic study and research, with an honorary distinction at the 9th Pan-Hellenic orthodontic congress (Athens 2006) He barely felt as a foreigner in Greece. He received the love of the Greek people and he still enjoys it, here in beautiful Thessaloniki, Macedonia. In the summer of 1985, the Muse bestowed her gift on the poet, thus he started writing his first verses. His first poetic collection was published in 2011 under the title “Colors of an Era “, from ALDE publishing. His second poetic collection was published in 2018 under the title “Hellenic speech, Light of the World “, and his third poetic collection under the title “The daughter of the North “, and his forth poetic edition under the title “The Moon of the Orient “ and his last poetic collection under the title “ Love And Tenderness. He is a member of the Litterateurs Association of Northern Greece and of the cultural social institution “Amphictyonic League of Hellenism”. He received ‘Honorary Distinction’ at the 4th International Poetic Contest on “Hellenic speech, Light of the World” (Thessaloniki, May 3rd , 2014) . He gave a lecture at the 3rd International Amphictyons Congress on : The History of Hellenic-Syrian Culture the took place at the French Institute of Thessaloniki (May 2014) , at the festival : Celebration of Multilingualism on :Language and Communication (Municipality of Thessaloniki, May 30th and 31st 2014) at the “1st Panhellenic Contest –Bequest of Nana Kontou 2010” by the Association of the Smyrnian people of Asia minor in northern Greece , with his poem titled “Smyrna” (Thessaloniki, November 20th 2010). His work under the title “Colors of an Era “  was published on the magazine “Critique of Language and Art , positions and views “ (50th issue ,May –July 2015). He became a member of  WIP  and  Peace Ambassador   branch  of   SYRIA  in  2018. He  lives  in  the  town  of  Thessaloniki – Greece .