Poetry, Libros Libertad 2008
Paperback 9 x 6 in
107 pages
ISBN: 9780978186586
$9.95
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REVIEW
“Perhaps only a poet of Greek origin, who creates in the manner of his master Elytis could, using and renewing the conventions of Ode and Epode, Strophe and Antistrophe and an imagery that “unfolds like the fragrance of white hyacinths to the end of space” write a Eulogy to the loss of Logos.
In these poems the reader encounters the virginal and sculpted limbs of the Kore and her ethereal beauty embraced by the gross and murderous Troglodyte, imprisoned and abused by the organized religion, academic education and capitalistic greed. Here also is the young poet, her intended lover and here is creation as it was at the beginning, in the Middle Ages, and in our modern world.
Troglodytes has an overarching vision lyrically expressed of the history of man and the loss of that Greek ideal we no longer know how to translate and so we mumble platitudes about logics and the word of a single god that miss the mark.”
– Joanne Ford, author of Eros Operatica
With each poetry book Manolis gains different forms of expression and dynamism, which are qualities of a true artist. Troglodytes, his new collection of poems, reflects this evidence. His words, ripen by silence and a strong resonance from the Greek mythology, offer a myriad of images and senses that transport the reader to his world of wonder. At the same time they reveal the tics, beauty and contradictions of humanity, like a rain drop refreshes not only a rose on a hot summer day but also its thorns. The collection offers this simple and yet meaningful insight: Poetry is to be understood by its own diaphanous virtues and light in order to be a true mirror of the soul. That’s the message we get page by page in Troglodytes.
– Eduardo Bettencourt Pinto
Excerpt
SEPTENARY
I
Logos–
from the spiral void nascent
logos springs forth reflecting
unwrinkled soil’s lust for vapors and
alpha sun-drenched concept
logos’ arms unfold primal kore’s dream
transparent and unstained
a lake’s obsession for a moon
glimmering slopes second concept.
Logos–
dwells over the chaos
breeze hovering on the plains and
crudest earthly essence becomes
gamma benevolent concept;
logos with God in light of God
flame like a dancing serpent
mysterious shadows on a cave wall and
conscience concept the fourth.
Logos–
shoulders like an Atlas all
ephemeral only to emerge as His first thought:
a primeval in the entrance of the cave
an obscure shadow, the troglodyte
outlining a human and this hymn
the omega concept.
II
First subterranean impulse of light
and troglodyte’s eyes receive colors of stems
novice rivulets trickling the primal thought
to wondering seaweed, to blossoming rose
roots slowly stretching in the earth
eyes receive and appreciate the nurturing nature
living life to love
freeing freedom to create his path
toward irresistible Death
shredded light moves
through swirling vacuum
through the rock’s fissure
devout cyclamen
wit its purple garment, innocent smile
and he perceives justice
that he’ll uphold, impunity
beyond the merely beautiful
the diaphanous monarch flying
over meadow of the asphodels
he accepts cunning privilege
to create his inexorable path.
Manolis 