Roots of nourishment,
washed away by intellectual erosion;
 Naïveté and ignorance,
toxins of cultural illiteracy;
Ethnic identity compromised
at annual church festival

Odysseus

15 III 2023

POSEIDONIANS
by Constantine P Cavafy


The Poseidonians forgot the Greek language
after so many centuries of mingling
with Tyrrhenians, Latins, and other foreigners.
The only thing surviving from their ancestors
was a Greek festival, with beautiful rites,
with lyres and flutes, contests and wreaths.
And it was their habit toward the festival's end
to tell each other about their ancient customs
and once again to speak Greek names
that only few of them still recognized.
And so their festival always had a melancholy ending
because they remembered that they too were Greeks,
they too once upon a time were citizens of Magna Graecia;
and how low they'd fallen now, what they'd become,
living and speaking like barbarians,
cut off so disastrously from the Greek way of life.

“Gyro, Mousaka, Ouzo, OPA!”

Birds are singing, 
Helios is smiling, 
as are some humans;
Mesmerized by warmth,
love, continuity, beauty

Trees,
deciduous and not,
blossoms at hand;

Why are some
lacking life?
Nutrients of nurture, 
empathy and soul,
not fermenting;

Birds communicating 
rhythmic patterns,
sine wave chants
Humans would benefit 
by observing

Trajectory continues, 
extending to the warmth,
friends, energy, surroundings
awaiting


O M
8 February 2023

Convergence of smile, 
energy, culture
Epiros beckons,
where nature is wedded 
with spirit

5 Oct 2019
OM

Reflection, spiced by conversation;
travelers from afar and near,
Hellas, Netherlands, Slovenia, Israel,
adding to pastel of culture;
Surrounded by mountains, history,
where Lake mirrors positive energy

Notes from Ioannina
5 Oct 2019
OM

CELTIC TAPESTRY

Colours coalesce,
synthesis of hagiography;

Identity, 
raison d'être 
Book of Kells
from whence, 
to where
and now

17 August 2019
Trinity College, Dublin


GAIA IN EIRE

Where Gaelic
colors culture,
clouds providing filter,
refreshing drops of rain,
cultural infusion;
Celtic aura

19 August 2019

In a kirk,
built early 1200;
Cultures fuse,
gods to gods,
poly- to tri–theism;
Poseidon to Nicholas,
Athena to Miriam/Mary

Continuity of faith,
embedded in monuments

18 August 2019
County Kerry

ΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΗ

Βγάζει το άκτι μου
βγαίνει στα λόγια
στη μουσική,
στις εκφράσεις,
στο χαμόγελο,
στην διάθεσή

Η ψυχή εκδηλώνεται

18 Αυγούστου 2019


O'TOBAHN

Leaving Donnybrook,
Smiles and friendly monologue,
purveyors of greetings

On road towards Galway,
asphalt traversed in green, 
sky, 
full of gray,
refreshed by mist

Memories that shall stay

18 August 2019


TEMPALL= ΝΑΟΣ

Culture synthesis,
continuity, 
Ellas in Aran

19 August 2019


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


Towards Aran isles

Amalgam of polyglossy, 
journeying to focus of culture;
Where Gaelic withstood 
time and conquerer,
now welcoming all strata
of commercial invasion

19 August 2019


Copyright 2020
ODYSSEUS MIKALIS 

ΕΜΠΝΕΥΣΕΙΣ ΠΡΩΙΝΕΣ * MORNING INSPIRATIONS * “Raleigh Eruption”

Σας εύχομαστε χρονιά ισορροπίας και υγείας, με ευκαιρίες να βρισκόμαστε σε θετικό περιβάλλον, με αξέχαστη συζήτηση, μουσική, και καλή παρέα… Οδυσσέας -Ελένη

Wishing you a year of balance and health, opportunities to get together in positive environments, with unforgettable conversation, music, and camaraderie…

Odysseus – Elena

Αφιερωμένο στην παρέα. Καλή συνέχεια και αντάμωση!

ΚΕΝΟ

Μας λείψατε
μας λείπετε 
Στην μια στεριά
και στην άλλη
Αυτό θα πει φιλία

VOID

You are missing,
you are missed;
On one shore,
and the other;
Friendship…