Category: Uncategorized

Swamped

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Excerpt

“Okay.” He glanced back at his cooling sauce. “Are you fine with
penne, or would you prefer spaghetti?”
“Penne, please.”
“Penne it is.” Eteo smiled at his son, who was already heading
upstairs again. “Dinner at seven, okay?”
“Yes, Dad,” Alex called from the floor above.
Eteo went back to his chair. He absentmindedly scanned the
space around him, registering the familiar, steady sounds of the
house. Normally they were like the heartbeats of a healthy person,
regular, unhurried, relaxed, almost unnoticeable, but now, with Eteo’s
attention focused on them, they began to sound more like loudspeakers
in a plaza. The map of the earth on the far wall, made of sheets of
copper, was still as shiny as it had been earlier today and the fireplace
sat ready to be lit whenever he wanted that cozy ambience. He
thought about what he needed to do to organize those he wanted to
get involved in Herb’s deal. It looked like a winner, and Eteo knew
that when you have a winner you take care of clients who haven’t
done so well lately. Spiro and Michael, and Angelo too. They had lost
a bit of money on Eteo’s last recommendation, so he owed them a
piece of the action on this one. He also had to work in some of his
personal accounts. Yanni would buy anything Eteo recommended,
as would Nick the hairdresser and Kenny Wong and his friends. The
market, Eteo had learned, was a beast that no one knew how to tame.
Investing in penny stocks wasn’t much different than betting on
horses, except that at least you could look at the horses and, if you
knew horses, separate the strong ones from the weak. Penny stocks
all looked alike, yet each ran on its own terms and no two ever got
exactly the same results. All the more reason why when you get a
loser for a client you better find a winner soon. Yes, he had to include
Spiro and Michael and Angelo in this one.
Logan arrived home while Eteo was still on the phone organizing
his first three clients and explaining to them what he had in mind for
the next few days. Logan, who stood almost six feet, smiled down at
him. He knew who his father was talking to and exactly what he was
doing. Apart from his height, Logan looked a lot like his father.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WP3LMPX

Nikos Engonopoulos – Poems

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Sinbad the Sailor
My soul is often
a side street in Mykonos
in the twilight
and women start
putting down on the street,
quite erotically and
in triangular, monotonous shapes
blue glasses
blue plates
blue carafes
blue lust
violins
flowers
pebbles
all in blue colour
away from the sun
on the soil
in the street
where the sun passed
besides
it won’t pass again
then exactly then
is the time
when I
pass my hand
softly
over my cranium
and I press it
deep

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763734

(που δεν μπορούμε να σ’ αγγίξουμε με το λόγο

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[που δε μπορούμε να σ’ αγγίξουμε με το λόγο·

Unfulfilled

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Ashes
When people told you to be strong
You knew some things had to collapse
After things turned worse than wrong
Burned down into bare ashes
Before the ashes, souls ascended
There was just dust after them
But ashes started fluorescing
When souls have arrived in heaven
Tragic as things turned out to be
As its nature, time has passed
From the ashes, their wings spreading,
Arose two beautiful phoenixes
Leaving birdwatchers astounded,
Shortly after being reborn
The creatures would not remain grounded
They lifted off, and they have flown
Two birds of fire now light the world,
The sky is theirs, but don’t forget
Their miraculous rebirth
Was from that fluorescent ash

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763688

The Circle

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Excerpt

He gets the Admiral a beer and, for Ibrahim, a glass of water as he requested.
Emily is obviously surprised with the arrival of Hakim’s uncle, as she had
thought only Bevan was coming. Bevan’s was the first invitation she sent out.
“I decided to surprise you with an extra guest. This is a very good friend of
mine from the old days. I met Ibrahim in Baghdad many years ago,” Bevan says
to Emily.
Hakim takes his uncle aside because he needs to be with him for a few
minutes alone. Jennifer catches them as they walk away.
“Hi honey, are you going to introduce me to your uncle?” she asks.
Hakim smiles and introduces them. His uncle takes Jennifer’s hand and, the
same as with her mother, kisses it politely.
“I’m quite happy to meet you, Jennifer. I see my nephew has made a very
good choice.”
“I’m very happy to meet you, too, sir,” she replies. Her cheeks blush.
The three stroll around the yard for a few minutes. Hakim is eager to
know more about his uncle’s health, but he knows it will be hard to find out
surrounded by people at a party, that will carry on for the next few hours. He
goes along with the old man who wants to sit down for a while. Jennifer
brings a chair for him from inside the house and places it in the shade of the
big maple.
Ibrahim smiles at her and Hakim, and says, “Young lady, you are an angel,
thank you kindly.”
She smiles back at him and takes Hakim’s hand. He doesn’t object and all
three sit by the big maple tree talking about the non-serious things that keep
this world going around without getting bored. The ever-watchful eyes of the
maple keep them company, and before the feelings of revenge that enter and
exit Hakim’s mind became a thorn on the stem of a beautiful rose, the
watchful eyes of the maple turn and the tender sight of Ibrahim softens his
thoughts. The pleasant, warm afternoon, and a light breeze coming from the
Southeastern horizon, along with the flowers’ scent from the beds of the
garden complements the area around the guests with the fragrance of lilac and
honeysuckle.
Ibrahim turns to Hakim.
“How is your work going, my son? Are you happy here? Would you like to try
something different? There are ways, you know.”
For the second time, he’s caught unprepared for this questioning, as if his
uncle knows things that are happening or are about to happen, of which Hakim is
not yet aware.
“Why are you asking me this, my uncle?”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0978186524

Tasos Livaditis – Poems, Volume II

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Long Listed for the 2023 Griffin Poetry Awards

2023 Longlist Announcement

Inglorious End

     I had to reach that point fast; my fate was at risk,

the slightest delay would perhaps cost me my life or

even something more serious. However, I couldn’t

find my path, I was lost in the labyrinth of wet,

mouldy backyards. “My God, I have to get out”,

I said, and I saw the woman. Her face had a green

reflection, as if it had grown moss; she stood motionless

before the mirror, fixing her hair. “Please tell me how

I get out of here”, but she didn’t answer and then

I noticed she was a statue; the real woman sat further up

on a rocking chair. “How could I get out of here?” I asked

again. She smiled with spite. “I too, wished that some

years ago,” she said. Then my face reappeared next

to the statue of the woman; my face started to grow

moss as time went by, while I, sitting on a chair,

also smiled spitefully at the one who came to ask

about his path.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZVT59YW

Ken Kirkby, A Painter’s Quest for Canada

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Excerpt

“Grab a coffee and shut the door,” the manager said. When he was sure
no one could hear, he said, “I’ll hire you.”
“Sure,” Ken said. “That’s fine, but let’s sort this out first. I’ll keep your
offer as an ace in the hole.”
Later that day a small plane landed at the airstrip, disgorging the owner
of the company and his entourage, who commandeered an office and
closed the door. Ken slammed the door open and strode into the room.
One man jumped to his feet and tried to usher Ken out. “No,” he said,
shaking the man off. “If this is about me, I’m going to have my say. You
don’t hire an engineer. You don’t have one on the job, but you expect the
job to get done. I’ve learned how to do it. I’m doing it and what’s more,
ask yourself, is there any single thing wrong in the information provided?
Show me one thing that is incorrect – just one! I know you can’t. The
other question I have, is why am I doing the job of four to five men and
getting paid for one? I’m glad I’m fired. It feels good. Have a nice time!”
Ken slammed out of the room, as boldly as he had entered, got in the
truck, and drove back to Jessica’s house. He was nearing the gate when
he spotted the camp manager in his rear view mirror. Ken stopped and
waited for him to pull alongside.
“Are you fired?” he asked.
“I haven’t a damned clue and I don’t care. I’m having a good time.”
“Let me know immediately,” he said. “I’ll get you on the payroll right
away.”
“How much?” Ken asked.
“What are you making now?”
“That’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Well what do you want?”
“When I know what I want I’ll tell you. Right now I don’t want anything.”
Late that evening John came to the log house with the news that the
entire issue had been smoothed over. He had told the owner that he was
the one who had taught Ken how to use a slide rule, and that everything
had been done correctly. They had screwed up in head office, not Ken.
The camp manager had also spoken on his behalf. In fact, John said, it
was a lovefest. “Everyone’s in love with you. And the owner of the company
looks like a dummy. Of course, he’s not – he’s a smart guy but he had
no idea what was going on. He has a lot of other companies to look after.
But this is a big project with a lot of contracts. No one wants to look like
an idiot. But, everybody’s happy now!”
“Well, isn’t that wonderful!” Ken said. “I’m not happy!”
“But it’s okay – you’re supposed to come back,” John said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ken said. “I’ve been fired.”
“So what do we do?”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981073573

Life is a Poem

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LUCK
If it doesn’t want to
by no means
make it be scared,
embarrass it,
squeeze it between the doors.
And if it still doesn’t want to,
shoot it with the slingshot
to make it yours.
Luck loves
if it is forced,
if it is seek after.
Search for it
in the heart of the glaciers.
If it exists,
let it exist for you, too!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7KT7ZFV

Αγγελική Κουντουράκη, Nigredo

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Αγγελική Κουντουράκη, Nigredo

Savages and Beasts

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Excerpt

Molly had seen a lot in this diner which had become the center
of the latest news like a dispatch office, a center for controlling
the disease that eats their forest timber and the viscera of men,
she had seen a lot and she had heard a lot, Molly, and her eyes
and ears were always focused and tuned to anything worthy of
retaining in this small city of the British Columbia interior where
the famous Indian Residential School was located.
Anton looked at her. Their eyes said it all. She knew, there
at that moment, she knew of the tempest that was pounding his
mind and heart, but she also knew they had to be smart and
practical if they ever discovered something about the School and
what would be their best approach to the issue on hand: their goal
was to find out detailed info about the ins and outs of the School
and why these children don’t ever behave like children who like
to run around and play and enjoy their days in school.
“Thank you, Molly,” he uttered slowly.
The old man, next to Anton, was sipping his coffee and
enjoying his smoke. He smiled as his glance caught Molly’s hand
playing with Anton’s.
“Youth, the forever youth,” he thought to himself; then
he addressed Anton, “I gather you spent your first day at the
School?”
“Yea.”
“How’s my old pal?”
“He’s good.”
“There were times, back then, when Dylan wouldn’t bother
coming home at night; does he still sleep there sometimes?”
“Yes, even today he said he didn’t feel like going home and
he stayed at the school.”
“Where does he sleep?” Simon asked.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1926763602