SMARAGDI MITROPOULOU

 

Erotic

 

My heart is a gypsy

a free bird flying in the wind

a mermaid diving into the sea waves…

But tonight

only yours I shall be;

tonight…

the moon bleeds

and love in red dances flamenco.

 

Το You, My Beloved

 

Your eyes oh my beloved

 are clearer than the waters of Nile River

your lips redder than the flowers of the sacred lake

your embrace vaster than the desert.

Let me touch

your golden sandals

let me slowly raise my eyes

to face your celestial gaze.

If your hand even fleetingly

touches my hand

If your lips

touch my forehead

I will be the happiest among mortals!

Open oh gates of Bastet Temple open

it’s the night of the full moon…

open oh gates of Bastet Temple open

 whom I love most   before me to see

 

Eternity

 

Dressed in a white tunic

sunbeams embroidered

and bare feet

along the river I walk.

Dressed in a golden tunic

above the stars I rose.

Dressed in a red tunic

I tasted passion over the centuries.

With you

in the circle of heaven

in the circle of sea

in the circle of earth.

With you

in the walls of war

in the whisper of peace

in the blonde cornfields.

With you

in the sounds of music

in the homelands we loved

in yesterday, today, tomorrow,

forever.

With you

on the pages engraved inside us

in the light, in the dark

in the miracle of life.

History

now begins.

 

SMARAGDI MITROPOULOU

 

SMARAGDI MITROPOULOU was born in Athens. She has studied history and archaeology at the University of Athens and had postgraduate history studies at the University of Cardiff, in Great Britain. She serves in secondary education. She is also a Creative Writing graduate (Diploma in Creative Writing) from the Writers’ Bureau College (Manchester, UK), and has studied theater writing at the International Theater Institute and directing at the Foundation of Culture in Tinos Island. She appeared in Greek letters in 2014 with the theatrical "Before the sun sets", Ostria publications. In 2015 came out her second book "One moment just an eternity” (short stories), Ostria publications, and in 2017 her third book "Sounds in the silence" (short stories), Ostria publications. In 2019, her book "Barsaat the dance of rain" -a collection of short stories and poems- was published by 24grammata editions. In 2021 came out her poetry collection “Words as mirrors” by 24grammata editions. In 2022 her book “Like an old fairy-tale” was published by Sympantikes Diadromes editions. “One moment just an eternity”, has been translated in English and was published in 2020 by Ontime Books in Great Britain; it has become best-seller in eight countries. It is prefaced by writer and radio producer Theofanis L. Panagiotopoulos. “Sounds in the Silence” has also been translated in English and was published in 2021 by Ontime Books in Great Britain; it has become best-seller in eight countries. It is prefaced by writer and radio producer Theofanis L. Panagiotopoulos. She has been honored three times with the Larry Niven Fantasy Literature Prize (first and second prize in the "Fantasy" category). In 2019 she was awarded the ALEXANDROS PAPADIAMANTIS prose prize by the literary magazine KEFALOS for her work and her active presence in contemporary intellectual activity. Also, the Hellenic Cultural Club of Cyprus chose "Barsaat the dance of rain" as Book of the Year 2019 and “Words as Mirrors” as Book of the Year 2021. In 2020 she was honored with the PANORAMA YOUTH LITERARY AWARD 2020 during Panorama International Literature Festival 2020 in India. In 2021, her poem "Eternity" received a golden medal in an international poetry competition in China.  Also, her poem “I Paint” received award in the International Poetry Competition NOSSIDE in Italy. She is Program Coordinator & Member of the Executive Board of the Writers Capital International Foundation. In addition to her writing activity, she has participated as a speaker in educational conferences. She has also taken part- representing Greece- in international literary festivals in Europe and Asia. Her poems and short stories have been translated into English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Bengali and Spanish and have been published in world-class sites and magazines, including Atunis Poetry (Belgium), Jasminecollors (Tunisia), Blossoms Journal (Philippines), Nan (Taiwan), Science Herald (China), China Culture and Education Network (China), Revista Cardenal (Mexico), Revista Altazor (Chile), Revista Kametsa (Peru).