Light and sound,
welcoming breeze;
Synanthropes,
conversing, smiling;
Aromas,
taking us to other times,
resetting our presence
in the present
and continuity 

Odysseus, 1 June 2022

Στην αγριάδα ομορφιά, 
άνθη στο σάβανο φύσης 
η Αφροδίτη αγκαλιάζει τη Γη

Η Δημητρα
καλωσορίζει την Περσεφόνη 
η άνοιξη χαμογελά

In beauty of wilderness,
blossoms on nature’s tapestry
Aphrodite embraces Gaia

Demeter 
welcomes Persephone
Spring smiles

ΟΜ
Μάιος 2019
Ραφήνα

“There was Antonis, a man who emigrated to America from Greece, who thought he was a ‘real Greek’ and that everyone from Alatsata [present-day Alacati] and Asia Minor were inferior. Antonis worked in a restaurant, and he made a point of letting people like my uncle and other ‘Ottoman Greeks,’ as he called them, in only through the south door, which was for Blacks.”
— Read on www.ekathimerini.com/society/1185186/the-anatolian-greeks-who-settled-in-the-us/

FACING HISTORY

A journey to Trader Joe's usually involves sampling the latest end-cap items, picking up things you did not have on your list, and friendly staff.  The unexpected greeted me yesterday, as I went to pick up some non-essentials.

Walking down the frozen appetizers section, I noted an older man with a hat that had "WW2 Veteran" on it. 

"What theater of operations were you in?" I asked.

Bernard Weiss was a breath of fresh air, a tribute to the nonagenarian spirit.  Having been assigned to the Seventh Armored Division in Europe, he was relocated, much to his consternation, to the Pacific theater of operations, where he saw bloody action in Guam and surrounding areas.  I asked him whether taking Japanese prisoners was the exception rather than the rule.  "Absolutely," he replied.  "We would secure islands where the army needed to build air strips; we captured very few Japanese, as surrender was considered shameful."   He spoke at length about his experience, at one point pulling out his wallet, from which he took out a black and white photo, taken in 1945, where he is pictured with a smiling Japanese POW.  "Why is the prisoner smiling,"  I asked.  "Because he is alive, and I let him keep his wedding band,"  replied Bernie, who had no problem communicating with the prisoner, as the latter was originally from California, having gone back to Japan before the beginning of the war.

Proudly awaiting his ninety-third birthday, Bernie told me that he married Ingrid, a former German diplomat stationed in Washingon, in the 1980s, and that they travel to Munich often. 

I thanked him for his sacrifice and for sharing his life with me.

My day was ever more enriched, as was my life.


Odysseus
May 24, 2012

VARIATIONS
on a minor key,
Symphony of rarity
when synergy occurs;
Inertia,
intractable attitude,
no willingness to move forward

26 February 2020

Filtering sky
and thoughts;

Mental blinders,
not as obvious;

Loss of sight
stimulating depth of vision,
as Helios peeks through
narrow slits of optimism

22 May 2022
OM

The warmth of spirit, delightful sounds 
ecstasy abounding,
trees blossoming;
rebirth, hope, opening

Anoixi, opening, 
Spring, Primavera, Printemps
first truth, Spring

Memories of past
pleasant faces
Family gatherings, 
children’s laughter,
 dinner with music;
Harmony of elements

A dance of spirit,
 the dance of life;
Our nectar, ambrosia, 
affirmation with destiny,
dreams you can touch

A fine vintage,
smooth as seashore contours; 
waves breaking the silence, 
relaxing us more

We drink, soak it in; 
reflecting, feeling
the renaissance

copyright Odysseus Mikalis 2020

 March 10, 1997

Departing one land in MediTerra for another

 San Miguel, with its busy energy,
Gran Via, beauty of aristocratic architecture,
testament to era;

El Jammon, were we prepared?

Prado-- Titiano, Theotokopoulos--
artistic appetite enhanced

La Mallorquina, the hot chocolate, 
now a dream

Toledo, backdrop of majesty against Iberian sky, 
testament of human desire to achieve and appease 

Hijo number one, 
our tour guide and minder, 
how nice it was

OM
2015

EIRE

Where rays of sunshine
come in form of rain drops
Smiling faces,
Celtic melody of spirit,
engaging in conversation,
open to visitors;

Nature,
even in its unaccommodating rhythm,
has been reined,
energizing human expression

21 August 2019

MALBAY MELODY

Lunch in quaint
Irish village

Repast served
with taste of smile

Music, not on menu,
restless fingers had their way,
on ivory palate;
Customer, leaving happy
commenting on "touch of magic"

20 August 2018
Milltown Malbay
County Clare

Eire Inspirations
Odysseus Mikalis
 Copyright 2020