Cretan Canadian Poet, Author, Translator, Publisher
Author: vequinox
BIOGRAPHY
Manolis (Emmanuel Aligizakis) is a Greek-Canadian poet and author. He was recently appointed an honorary instructor and fellow of the International Arts Academy, and awarded a Master’s for the Arts in Literature. He is recognized for his ability to convey images and thoughts in a rich and evocative way that tugs at something deep within the reader. Born in the village of Kolibari on the island of Crete in 1947, he moved with his family at a young age to Thessaloniki and then to Athens, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences from the Panteion University of Athens. After graduation, he served in the armed forces for two years and emigrated to Vancouver in 1973, where he worked as an iron worker, train labourer, taxi driver, and stock broker, and studied English Literature at Simon Fraser University. He has written three novels and numerous collections of poetry, which are steadily being released as published works. His articles, poems and short stories in both Greek and English have appeared in various magazines and newspapers in Canada, United States, Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Australia, and Greece. His poetry has been translated into Spanish, Romanian, Swedish, German, Hungarian languages and has been published in book form or in magazines in various countries. He now lives in White Rock, where he spends his time writing, gardening, traveling, and heading Libros Libertad, an unorthodox and independent publishing company which he founded in 2006 with the mission of publishing literary books. His translation book “George Seferis-Collected Poems” was shortlisted for the Greek National Literary Awards the highest literary recognition of Greece.
Distinguished Awards
Winner of the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award, Writers International Network Canada, 2014
“George Seferis-Collected Poems” translated by Manolis, shortlisted for the Greek National Literary Awards, translation category.
1st International Poetry Prize for his translation of “George Seferis-Collected Poems”, 2013
Master of the Arts in Literature, International Arts Academy, 2013
1st Prize for poetry, 7th Volos poetry Competition, 2012
Honorary instructor and fellow, International Arts Academy, 2012
2nd Prize for short story, Interartia festival, 2012
2nd Prize for Poetry, Interartia Festival, 2012
2nd Prize for poetry, Interartia Festival, 2011
3rd prize for short stories, Interartia Festival, 2011
Books by Manolis
Autumn Leaves, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2014
Übermensch/Υπεράνθρωπος, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2013
Mythography, paintings and poetry, Libros Libertad, 2012
Nostos and Algos, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2012
Vortex, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2011
The Circle, novel, Libros Libertad, 2011
Vernal Equinox, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2011
Opera Bufa, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2010
Vespers, poetry by Manolis paintings by Ken Kirkby, Libros Libertad, 2010
Triptych, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2010
Nuances, poetry, Ekstasis Editions, 2009
Rendition, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2009
Impulses, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2009
Troglodytes, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2008
Petros Spathis, novel, Libros Libertad, 2008
El Greco, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2007
Path of Thorns, poetry, Libros Libertad, 2006
Footprints in Sandstone, poetry, Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, 2006
The Orphans - an Anthology, poetry, Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, 2005
Translations by Manolis
Idolaters, a novel by Joanna Frangia, Libros Libertad, 2014
Tasos Livaditis-Selected Poems, Libros Libertad, 2014
Yannis Ritsos-Selected Poems, Ekstasis Editions, 2013
Cloe and Alexandra-Selected Poems, Libros Libertad, 2013
George Seferis-Collected Poems, Libros Libertad, 2012
Yannis Ritsos-Poems, Libros Libertad, 2010
Constantine P. Cafavy - Poems, Libros Libertad, 2008
Cavafy-Selected Poems, Ekstasis Editions, 2011
Books in other languages
Eszmelet, (Hungarian), poetry by Manolis Aligizakis, translated into Hungarian by Karoly Csiby, AB-ART, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2014
Hierodoules, (Greek), poetry, Sexpirikon, Salonica, Greece, 2014
Yperanthropos,(Greek), poetry, ENEKEN Publications, Salonica, Greece, 2014
Übermensch (German), poetry by Manolis Aligizakis, translated into German by Eniko Thiele Csekei, WINDROSE, Austria, 2014
Nostos si Algos, (Romanian) poetry by Manolis Aligizakis, translated into Romanian by Lucia Gorea, DELLART, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2013
Tolmires Anatasis, (Greek) poetry, GAVRIILIDIS EDITIONS, Athens, Greece, 2013
Filloroes, (Greek ) poetry, ENEKEN PUBLICATIONS, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2013
Earini Isimeria, (Greek) poetry, ENEKEN PUBLICATIONS, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2011
Stratis o Roukounas, (Greek) novel, MAVRIDIS EDITIONS, Athens, Greece, 1981
Magazines
Canadian Fiction Magazine—Victoria, BC
Pacific Rim Review of Books—Victoria, BC
Canadian Poetry Review—Victoria, BC
Monday Poem, Leaf Press-Lantzville, BC
The Broadkill Review, Milton, Delaware
Ekeken, Thessaloniki, Greece
Envolimon, Beotia, Greece
Annual Literary Review, Athens, Greece
Stigmes, Crete, Greece
Apodimi Krites, Crete, Greece
Patris, Crete, Greece
Nyxta-Mera, Chania, Greece
Wallflowers, Thessaloniki, Greece
Diasporic Literature Spot, Melbourne, Australia
Black Sheep Dances, California, USA
Diasporic Literature Magazine, Melbourne, Australia
Spotlight on the Arts, Surrey, BC
Barnwood, International Poetry Magazine, Seattle, USA
Unrorean, University of Maine, Farmington, Maine, USA
Vakhikon, Athens, Greece
Paremvasi, Kozani, Greece
Szoros Ko, Bratislava, Slovakia
Mediterranean Poetry, Sweden
Apostaktirio, Athens, Greece
Life and Art, Athens, Greece
Logos and Images, Athens, Greece
Contemporary Writers and Thinkers, Athens, Greece
Palinodiae, Athens, Greece
Royal City Poet’s Anthology, 2013, New Westminster, BC, Canada
To parathyro, Paris, France
Ragazine C.C, New Jersey
Artenistas, Athens Greece
Deucalion the Thessalos, Greece.
Literary Lectern, Athens, Greece
Homo Universalis, Athens Greece
Song I walked all around your house (the moth flew around the lamp until it met its sweet death) though you didn’t come out that I’d burn into the flame of your eyes. Alas, the fragrance of the body and of the soul contamination will spoil one night even more alas since I won’t be the spoiler.
Leaves In vain I hurried down from the third floor; by the time I got down, it became winter. This was not meant to be a message but poetry. Like the last leaf, I fall among the others who have gone before me. Our mother is the trembling tree leaning against the wind so that she does not fall on her trunk. But if she does, she falls softly, we, her leaves, will take care of her.
Separation With teary eyes I stared at the woman dressed in black with her well-made hair silver pin holding it up surprise of the day my sigh in the air when she came near me with open arms as if to embrace the whole world that imperceptible laughter on her lips burnt me when she leaned to kiss me for the last time
Thank goodness for that.” She took a sip of coffee then put her cup down and sighed. “Working for Dr. Merkel has been good for him. He came home two days ago more animated than we’ve seen him since Barry died. He’d help deliver a calf that was coming backwards, he said.” Tyne smiled. “We could have used him on the farm the other day.” And she related the details of Jezebel’s ordeal to her mother, not neglecting to mention her part in it, and how Morley had gotten after her for foolishly entering the pen. “Well, I guess you deserved it. I’m glad someone is looking out for my headstrong daughter.” Tyne wrinkled her nose, and they both laughed, but Tyne quickly sobered. “How is Jeremy then? Do you think he’s getting better?” Emily looked beyond Tyne to the living room, and took a deep breath. “I think so; that is, I hope so. The trouble is, your dad doesn’t have much patience with him. He thinks Jeremy should just snap out of it.” Tyne toyed with the muffin on her plate. Oh yes, that was so like Jeffery Milligan – just buck up and get over it. But she wondered if it was simply her dad’s reluctance to show any weakness on his part – stiff upper lip, and all that. Lately, she had been inclined to allow him the benefit of the doubt. She looked up. “Morley would like Jeremy to help him with the harvesting this weekend. Do you think he will?” “Oh my yes, I think so. At least, he certainly enjoyed it last year, and it will give him a lift. Tell Morley thanks for thinking of him, dear.” “I will. And Mom, I want you to know that Morley and I have been praying for Jeremy.” Emily smiled and squeezed Tyne’s hand where it lay on the table. “Thank you, Tyne. I knew you would be.”
But Joel had a feeling that even that would be considered a steal, and if he had agreed, those two would be in a bar before the end of the day sucking back beer and chirping about how they took the dude out at Circle H for a ride. Since he had the briefcase open, Joel thought that now was as good a time as any to take a closer look at the parentage of his livestock. After separating out the remaining older mares, he lay all of their registration papers from the American Quarter Horse Association in front of him on the kitchen table. Although he didn’t know it, he was looking at the living history of some of the greatest breeding ever. Just like the old mare that he had just sold, the other matriarch of the remuda was also a daughter of the legendary Doc Bar out of a Peppy San mare called Peppy Jane. Her own name was Doc’s Peppy Jane, confirming the identity of the other older mare. If that kind of breeding was so valuable in a twenty-one-year-old mare then the daughters had to be equally valuable. Especially if they were young enough to still be putting colts on the ground. And as he scanned the papers, that is exactly what he saw. Absolutely every one of the other ten mares in the remuda were daughters of either of the original Doc Bar mares that his dad had brought up from Denver. With only ten mares besides the other own daughter of Doc Bar, Joel’s guess would be that his dad had chosen to keep just the absolute best fillies to include in the broodmare band. After clearing the table of the registration papers for the broodmares, he turned his attention to finding the papers for the three-year-olds that he and Harry were currently training. After a little more rummaging through the briefcase, Joel found the papers for each of the dozen three-year-olds. The first one he spotted was the filly out of the old blonde mare, and sure enough, it was the pretty palomino he had just finished the morning with; Joel had a feeling about the way she was handling herself. He had convinced himself that when he had a chance to look at the papers that he would discover that the last three-year-old …
The late-arriving dawn forgets its white undergarments between the petals of the gardenia while the first wavelet thrusts forward a light froth as if to mark its territory when the Kore’s lips shine their desire for my kiss and I engrave footprints in the sand of her dream with my second sip of wine a thought emanating from the flesh directs me to the window and peaking through half-pulled curtains, I observe her invincible movements her virginity laments its lost luster and the glowing silver of the moon’s face fades slowly in the Kore’s hour after I closed my eyes being unable to stare at divinity and its lust swirling around her soft mound while a disturbed dream hovers between conscience and the rosy curtains hanging on a rod across the lane the forlornness-friendly sound of a lyre caressing my earlobes emerges from the silence of bed sheets as her fingers dare touch the middle petal of her orchid for the first time another day smiles as sunshine ricochets off her aroused nipples, the jasmine’s fragrance spreads over her tongue.
Sinope is the name the official name of the Cloud-City and City of Fires which is somewhere in South America this watery and rather of Hellenic civilization City floats in the sky like a baton and the experts place it, sometimes in the middle of a straight line incised between Maracaibo and Valparaiso of Chile other times between Maracaibo and Elbasan there as all the houses are made of fires citizens live among the fires they are constantly burned and get reborn …
Hakim starts getting jittery and shows signs of being ready to go, although Talal doesn’t seem to pay attention to the signals. Jennifer wants to go with Hakim to his apartment and stay overnight and Emily wishes Jennifer and Hakim would go, without Talal, so she might take him upstairs to her bed and show him what it means to be sexually hungry. Yet, they all sit around and talk for another half an hour, playing the game people call the waiting game as Emily becomes interestingly aroused with each minute. “I think it is time to go,” Hakim says, looking at Talal, who doesn’t seem to be ready to comply. “Mom, I’ll go with Hakim. I’ll get my things ready, okay?” Jennifer takes her mom and Hakim by surprise. “I don’t know, sweetheart, don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Emily realizes her wish will become reality. “Yeah, I do, but I’m going to get my things ready; I’ll go to work from Hakim’s, no big deal. I’ll take your car.” Talal relaxes with Emily knowing that after the two go he’ll really have the time of his life. He imagines her breasts bouncing up and down as she rides her hunger on top of him. “I’m in on hurry, my friend,” Talal turns and says to Hakim. “I don’t have to work tomorrow. The night is still young.Howabout another glass ofwine, Emily?” Emily gives him the best smile ever and gets up and fills their glasses with wine. She gives him the glass and he caresses her hand in a way only Emily notices.Hakim is wondering what’s going on and how far Talal is going to take this. Jennifer comes downstairs and the two are ready to go. They say goodnight, and walk through the basement to the family garage. They take Emily’s car and drive away. Talal moves closer to Emily and takes her hands in his, her hands tremble. She knows what comes next, although she likes to be taken by the hand and that’s exactly what Talal does. They walk slowly up the stairs kissing and caressing. Her bed welcomes them with open arms, as their sexual pleasure heats up slowly but steadily, Emily is happy once more on top of him, her breasts bouncing. He lets her enjoy the climax of her orgasm as he feels the sensuality taking him over as well. Emily is loud in her moaning, breathing fast, and having very strong convulsions at the top of her satisfaction. In the midst of their sexual climax, the phone rings. Emily looks at the display screen: it’s Matthew. She wonders for a moment whether to take the call or not. She looks at Talal, and he knows who is on the phone by seeing her reaction. He nods at her to take the call. She lifts the receiver. “Hello, Matt,” she says, her breathing still a bit excited.
CONDITION The room begins to grow like despair, the air expands in my dream the gray angels flee. I’m alone. Space can hardly breathe, the crater of the moon rolls towards me, the hairy paw of the earth holds me, – forgive me, mother forgive me, sweetie the terrified hair screams the mouth groans crushed with fear, the carious space is forced to laugh. It’s a nightmare, I say the whim of the night in mourning and weeping, the grimace of the weather frowning in children with asthenia – the air is whimsical, it’s late the dream tormented by fatigue jumps to his lame feet. I can hear my breath, I hear spitting glances everywhere and here is the leap and the fall, and the noise, everything crashes into the gap between me and something else. And there is no sleep and there is no flesh, I’m just air and I’m still a nightmare which is not over yet.