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
He leans closer again and kisses her cheek. She glows all over, being there, next to him, and he stops pestering her about her indiscretion. Their drinks are served and Talal turns closer to Hakim and asks, “You like Helena?” “Of course, Helena is beautiful.” “I know she’s a beautiful girl, Hakim.” They spend a couple of hours at the club. Peter and Rose feel tired and decide to go home. Talal is dancing with Helena. Jennifer has had two drinks and feels a bit tipsy, however Hakim gets her up to dance for the last time before they all go home. She holds him tightly as they dance. Feeling his firmness on her leg, she lifts her head and looks at him, smiling. There are so many people crowded around them; however, she gets gutsy and puts her hand on his pants, slowly rubbing him as they dance. Talal catches them as he turns his head, and he flashes a smile at Hakim. Hakim smiles back at Talal. Hakim asks Jennifer, “Are you ready to go now, my love?” Later on, outside the Double Cherry Club, they all say goodnight to Anthony. They say farewell to each other and walk to their separate cars. Hakim and Jennifer take a short ride around L.A., enjoying the cool September night. She is still a little dizzy when they arrive at his apartment. He helps her walk to the elevator, and she leans on him with the security a child needs from an adult. They go to bed; Jennifer, as she promised earlier in the day, is all over him. Hakim enjoys the attention and they make passionate love. The scare of AIDS fromsome twenty years earlier has somehow been put aside, although a cure still hasn’t been found. Science has produced so many different types of drugs during the past ten years that AIDS is now treatable and many of the afflicted lead fairly normal lives.On the other hand, the younger generation tends to abstain from sleeping around as did in the years before the AIDS, and most practice safe sex.Most young people prefer to have just one girlfriend or boyfriend after their high-school years and later on, many end up marrying. As the night passes slowly Hakim and Jennifer fall asleep. Hakim wakes up first as the light comes through the curtains of the east window; it is a clear day and the sun brightens up the room. He looks at his phone, it’s ten o’clock. He gets up, takes a quick shower, brushes his teeth, and stretches. Hakim looks at Jennifer as she sleeps. He remembers the last drink and smiles at the thought of last night. Her back is uncovered as the comforter is pushed to the side. He marvels at the sensuous way she is spread on the bed in front of him and finds himself excited. He slips into the bed and pulls the covers over them; cuddles close and embraces her. She feels him behind her and moves her torso against his body.
my spice flowers fűszervirágaim I use the spice of your kiss silence melts in the sunset all here is gold and mist
and I feel the warmth of the smoke of existence soundless collision of wild petals we are plucked out from an earthly flower forever now no bad words can reach me no specials but the past stitched its links together I am ready to accept that your silence is your mate
your spice is as a noble moment as a mirth all your wishes are joy and to hate what was left out of the rebirth my kisses won’t stay they whirled the buds of gods encased in ice snap miracles are torn up by the will of the world in the eyes of the night in the shape of the heart’s lap because of your fresh kisses I become a crumb one learns – one’s emotions cut like a blade
I also came for a while to love but I am part of the passing away no longer I have power over your heart
your memory merges into nothing’s space and your present also slips through my rampart
As a boy, the dancing waters of Paradise Creek had always been special to Joel. More specifically the headwaters, the spring up in the hills was a very special place. It was his place. A safe place to hide and his place to ponder the possibilities of life. Now as he crossed over Paradise Creek as a man, for the first time in thirty-two years Joel could feel that the bridge represented much more to him than simply a wooden structure that ensured a dry start to his ride. Joel Hooper was crossing over into a new adventure in his life. Or at least he sure hoped he was. Sure as heck something had to change. And it had to change in a hurry. On this particularly fine Montana morning, Joel was serenaded by the rustling of the wind through the tall grass of the thickly matted pasture. Yes, it seemed to be the same wind that Joel had been meaninglessly chasing for so many years. But he knew that this time it was different. Joel Hooper was home. It wasn’t so much the ranch yard with the tiny weathered ranch house and the dilapidated buildings that Joel thought of as home but it was the Hills of Serenity that held the Circle H, nestled close to their western side. Gently rolling, golden hills rose high out of the flat plains below. He knew he was coming home. The shrill calls of the meadowlarks were heralding his arrival. As he crested yet another hill, Joel was greeted by the distant view of a dozen mares and their foals leisurely grazing on a lush meadow. They were gorgeous horses and they were his horses, now that he had inherited the Circle H; amazing as that may still seem to him, this is what a lawyer named Debra Song in Great Falls had told him just yesterday. Not that the Circle H was much by most people’s standards but it was a heck of a lot more than anyone else had ever given him in his life. At that moment, Joel was struck by the incredible freedom of his new equine family roaming the high hills. Yes, he thought. That is what I want for my life. Reaching back into his childhood, Joel recalled that horses had always been a bold and beautiful symbol of freedom. He had so desperately wanted some of what they had.
Time will Come Soon my children will enrol me in the old people’s school, in the eighth grade, so that when I come out I can be a freshman, whose face is still clean, and although I’m a little anxious, I’m interested in everything, I want to know, and not forget.
“How about a cup at the spot?” “I’m having one right now. Want to shoot some pool?” “Sure. Meet you there in about half an hour?” “Yeah.” He finishes his coffee quickly, eats his sandwich, and steps into the shower. Today is Saturday, and the rest of his day is free. He puts on his jeans, a t-shirt, and a light jacket. The days of September are getting cooler; a sign of fall approaching. In the elevator he meets the lady from 406, a middle-aged blonde who likes him and always exchanges a few words with him. Today is no exception. “Out again?” she asks, with a smile. “Yeah, for a while.” “Girls, girls, as always!” She says nothing more as they reach the lobby and they go their separate ways. He walks to the parking lot, gets into his car, and drives to the pool hall. Talal is already there and has ordered his coffee. Hakim buys a bottle of water and they start their game. “Anything on the job-front?” Hakim asks. “Nothing yet, man.” “Well, something will come together sooner or later.” He tries to encourage his friend. “I hope so, man; I’m getting frustrated.” Hakim’s phone rings. It’s Jennifer. “Hi, how are you?” he says. “Hi, I’m okay. You remember, I promised to call you.” “Yeah, I know, but—” “What? You don’t want to go out with me? Is that it?” she interrupts him. “No, that’s not what I mean. I’m having a game of pool with Talal.” She hesitates on the other end of the phone, so he tells her, “I’ll see you later, okay?” “You promise?” “Yeah, I promise. I’ll call you and meet you later.” He puts his phone away; it’s his turn to play. “She really wants to know where you are all the time, eh?” asks Talal. “No, that’s not it. She called earlier, and I told her to call me back.” “Women, you know, they are all the same. That’s why my style is no commitment, you know? Casual sex as often as possible, but none of this nonsense!”