IOANNIS KARAJOLI

 

IOANNIS KARAJOLI

The Little Yard Under The Acropolis

 

The baglama is having fun

flirting the bouzoukia

shy and little

it’s singing timidly.

 

The guitars and the dancers

surge in groups

along the stairs of Plaka

spreading joy

at every corner.

 

The perfume of good Greek coffee

is mixed with the narrow passages

Scattered girls

are sharing sweet hugs,

They take beautiful flowers

flirting invisible

heroes of the Acropolis

seeking for a medal of love.

 

 

The Fortress Of Inquiry

 

I wander along the alleys under the Acropolis

and I’m lost in the narrow streets of Plaka

The sound of syrtaki enchants me

A secret date is waiting for me

sitting on an ancient stone

one dreamy evening with a full moon

Together with her I rebuild the Acropolis

with my archaeological imagination

For me you are the metropolis

that everyone embraces.

 

 

Monastiraki

 

On a Sunday morning

I make a wish at the Acropolis

changing my way of life for one day.

I see the experienced seller

seeking for a buyer

looking among the old stuff

for memories of the past

Old forgotten objects

spread on the long pedestrian street.

Eras shared

with old scents.

Come here, my friend, I give you your hobby

as long as you come close to my source

The look is constantly searching

flowing along the world of old objects

The body is bending

on various shapes of antiques

taking them to new eras.

For the Sunday bazaar

 

 

Athens

 

Lost in the streets of Athens

I aimed at finding myself

Counting the people

that I met unintentionally

and the endless shop windows

with the look of a provincial kid!

I was looking!

Glad to be strolling for one more time

in my beloved capital.

 

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).