National Poetry Month: Greek Poets – Apostolos Anagnostopoulos

We’re celebrating National Poetry Month spotlighting the work of contemporary Greek poets. This week, meet Apostolos Anagnostopoulos.

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National Poetry Month 2017: Celebrating Greek Poets

Welcome to our latest series, in honor of National Poetry Month, celebrating the work of Greek poets.

From Sappho to Ritsos, Greeks have always had a way with words. In celebration of National Poetry Month, we have collected some delightful and moving poems by contemporary Greek poets.We’ll spotlight a different writer each week. We hope you enjoy this series.

This week, we present Greek-American Poet and New York Native Apostolos Anagnostopoulos. He selected the following poem, “Telemachus’ Letter”, because it reminds him of his Greek roots. He said he was inspired to write the poem “to give the opportunity to Telemechus to speak to his father.”

Greek-American Poet Apostolos Anagnostopoulos

Related: National Poetry Month: Greek Poets – Lia Siomou

Telemechus’s Letter by Apostolos Anagnostopoulos

Oh, wise father Odysseus;

Listen to words of your son.

ask of thee to offer council

As I pray for your safe return.

 

Uninvited suitors torment mother.

They eat of our food,

Drink of our wine.

No woman deserves this,

Let alone a royal queen.

 

In Poseidon’s oceans do you linger

Or has mighty Zeus cursed you?

Have you fallen amongst comrades?

 

I will search lands and oceans alike

Until I find you, oh glorious father,

Your stories shall be read in all lands.

Let the gods grant you strength.

 

Shall I mourn you, oh mighty king,

Or will Athena bring you to Ithaca’s shores?

If so, we shall celebrate and feast,

Make offering to the gods,

Punish those who leave mother in tears.

May they see a painful death.

 

Oh father, long has Ithaca waited

For their Odysseus to come home

Related: National Poetry Month: Greek Poets Mary Houmis-Diab

Meet Apostolos Anagnostopoulos

Manhasset, NY native Apostolos Anagnostopoulos, a.k.a. Paul, began writing at the age of 13. As a child, he battled a learning disability, and found poetry offered him the ability to express himself in words. Now, 20 years later, he’s a published poet.

Paul has published four collections of poetry. The first, Passions of a Poet, includes some very emotional and raw works. Passions of a Poet 2: Against All Odds, is a very personal work, offering a glimpse at the struggles he’s faced in his young life. It’s illustrated by his cousin, Sophocles Plokamakis. Through These Lenses offers a more mature perspective on the human condition, as he sees it. Subway Stories was inspired by his cousin Sophocles’ drawings of subway riders. Paul wanted to give each one a story.

Passionate about poetry and wishing to offer more opportunities to poets, he founded and serves as trustee for Neopoet, an international online poetry website which has over 4,000 poetry members from 85 countries around the world.

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Connect with Apostolos Anagnostopoulos: website

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National Poetry Month 2016:

National Poetry Month: Greek-American Poets – Georgia Kolias

National Poetry Month: Greek-American Poets – Apollo Papafrangou

National Poetry Month: Greek-American Poets – Alexandra Kostoulas

National Poetry Month: Greek-American Poets – Georgia Bellas