Ariadne’s Notes: At long last, we are honoured to present the talented Greek Poetess, Despina Kontaxi. She sent this comprehensive C.V. of her large body of work:
AWARDS AND HONORS
2014 Selected to represent Greece in Persona IIMC’s international Anthology, India
Nominated for Leonardo DaVinci’s Diamond “For inspirational accomplishment”
2013 1st Book Award by ISGWA for the book “Pravi-100 years of freedom”. 2nd Award at the 1st International Poetry Competition OLTEPA for the poem “Eros-wine-vineyard”.
“Doctor of Arts in Poetry” of the International Art Academy. She is also a honorary Professor and a Fellowship of the International Art Academy.
Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England.
Honored poetess from Greece in “The World Poets Quarterly” (No. 69), China.
Honored poetess by the Municipality of Paggaion at the Panhellenic Book Festival in collaboration with the Publishers Association of Northern Greece under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Macedonia Thrace.
2012 Honored to talk at Vitrina University, Albania for my poetry, as a representative of Greek Poetry. Honored to participate at Struga Poetry Evenings, FYROM as a representative of Greece.
Awarded by the Mahatma Fule Talent Research Academy with the Mahatma Fule International Award “For her outstanding servises in the field of Poetry”, Nagpur, India.
Honored to present my poetry with the Peripheral Public Theater in the event “Spring of the poets 2012” as a play.
Awarded by International Biographical Center as “Woman of the year 2012”
2011 The UN Disarmament Office selects the poem “Hibakusha” for the top 10 in promoting Disarmament through Poetry.
Award at the Annual International Literature Competition by Keleno Magazine for the poem “Queen City”.
3 World Awards at the World Poetry Competition Interartia for the poems “The fall of Trapezounta”, “Cries” and “Heritage”. Book Award by the International Society of Greek Writers and Artists ISGWA for her book “The loneliness of the bedwalker”. Award by the ISGWA for the total of my poetry work.
Book Award “Midnight” by the ISGWA for the book “The purple kiss”. Honorary Distinction by the Panhellenic Union of Writers at the 26th Delphi Poetry Competition.
Honorary guest of Educational and Cultural Club of N. Peramos, Greece to present my poetry.
Award-Metal “Ares” for the poem “You are the light” at the 1st Mediterranean Poetry Competition. Metal by the United Poets Laureate International “in recognition and appreciation of Excellence in Poetry for World Brotherhood and Peace.
Honorary Diploma at the 22nd World Congress of Poets, Larissa, Greece
2010 The President of the Cypriot Democracy, gives his written congratulations for the poem “Cyprus- The tortured Island of Afrodite”
The Municipality of Eleftheroupoli, Greece, awards me for my contribution to poetry and my homeland. 2nd Award of Poetry by the Literature Club for the poem “I weave”. Award by the Panhellenic Physiotherapy Association for my offer to Art.
Honorary guest of Giannis Lekopoulos in his music performance “When night falls” to present my poetry.
3 World Awards at the World Poetry Competition Interartia for the poems “Echo of tragedy”, “Gloven balloon” and “Man was made”.
Honorary Participation at Thess Poetry Slam presenting my poem “I search for you” that took place in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Honorary guest at the event “Poetry is an open door”, Athens, Greece. My poems were read by Amy Stylianidi.
Honorary poetess by the Cultural Club of Eleftheroupoli, Greece at a concert by Giannis Ntoumanis.
Honorary guest by the Municipality of Athens at the 2nd International Festival of Street Theater. My poetry was presented by Art’s critic Leontios Petmezas, actor Giorgos Tzortzis and musician and guitar player Giannis Ntoumanis.
2009 Honorary Award by the 1st Panhellenic Poetry Competition in Thassos, Honorary Award from the Municipality of Hortiaty, Honorary distinction at the 5th European Poetry Festival at Thessaloniki for the poem “The smile escapees” written for those struck by the earthquake at L’ Aquila, Italy. The poem awarded in Athens becomes a painting in Thessaloniki at the Italian Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece.
2nd Award at the 9th International Poetry Competition, Germany. The poem “Black Silhouettes” becomes a painting for “Poetry and Art 2009”.
“Award-Metal of Benefator” for the District of Kavala, Greece for my contribution in promoting the area where I live through the Art of Poetry.
PUBLICATIONS
2013 Second edition of “The purple kiss” Poetry Collection in 5 languages.
2012 “Lost grounds. Unforgotten homelands” Poetic collection in english and greek. “Pravi 100 years of freedom” Poetic Collection in english and greek. Music composed by Michalis Kzounias. The Collection “Pravi-100 years of freedom” was written for the celebration of 100 years of freedom by the Municipality of Eleftheroupoli. It was presented as an opera in Eleftheroupoli, Greece.
Included in the anthology ” Pegasi International” as a representative of Greece in Tirana, Albania. Included in the anthology “Who is who” as a representative of Greece in Struga, FYROM.
2011 “The purple kiss” Poetry Collection in english and greek. Contains a CD with music composed on the poems by Alexandros Pappas. The poem “Sentimental Parade” selected by poets from all over the world to be included in the Wedding Anthology “A Royal Romance” by Forward Press for William and Kate.
The poem “Lennon” selected to be concluded to the anthology ” Everflowing Ink – A Collection Of Poetry”. The poems “Time still goes by” and “An instant” in an anthology by Forward Press. Anthology by the ISGW with the poem “Loneliness shimmers”.
2010 “The loneliness of the bedwalker” Poetry Collection in Greek. The poem “Stone” in an anthology published by the Muncipality of Hortiati, Greece. Poems in an anthology created by the Municipality of Kavala, Greece, distributed to all the school libraries of Kavala. The poem “Let us be” selected for the anthology “The World Is Your Oyster” by Forward Press, UK.
2007 “You I think of while I wait” Poetry Collection in Greek.
TRANSLATIONS
2012 Translation of “Kaddish to the life not lived” by Michalis Kokkinaris. Off Broadway production by Leonidas Loizides.
2011 Translation of Elytis’s “The route to the frontline”. Presented in London on 11/11/11 by Antonis Dimitrokalis in the event ” Behind the lines”
2010 Translation and poetical view of “Oresteia” by Aeshylus in english for an off Broadway production by Leonidas Loizides.
VIDEO POETRY
Many of the poems are turned into videos after the wish of the readers on facebook. Some very important among others are:
“The Battle of Salamina” written for the celebration of the Battle of Salamina.
“Apollo the god of music” participated at the International Poetry Competition “Tapestry of Bronze”, with influences from Vangelis’s “Mythodia”.
“”Gloven balloon” that was world awarded at Interartia World Poetry Competition.
“Erotic words” from the Awarded book “Purple kiss” turned into video in greek, english, french, spanish and german.
“Black Silhouettes” that become a painting for “Poetry and Art 2009”.
“The smile escapees” that gained honorary Distinction at the 5th European Poetry Festival at Thessaloniki and was written for those struck by the earthquake at L’ Aquila, Italy. Translated in Former Yugoslavian for Struga Poetry Evenings 2012.
“Forgotten smiles” from the Awarded book “Purple kiss” turned into video in greek, english, french, spanish and german.
“Heritage” the Wolrd awarded poem translated in Serbian turned into video in Greek and Serbian.
“Hibakusha” that reached Top 10 at the Poetry for Peace by the United Nations.
“Iphigenia” written and send to the nobel prize winner poet Gunder Grass by the Literature Magazine “O Defkalion. Turned into video depicting the situation in Greece at that time.
Hibakusha
Each word weaves
A web in our soul.
Every sound becomes
An echo from the past.
Radiation beats chromos
At the flesh of a Hibakusha.
Dreams dissolve
And wake up at the present.
Japan always survives.
Japan its memories revives.
Let a tsunami of peace strike
All minds on planet earth.
May Hibakusha find the hand of Nemesis.
The right time to reach justice.
So that the future will bring to life
The tree of nuclear disarmament.
The death of human disappointment.
Despina Kontaxi. (C)
ΧΙΜΠΑΚΟΥΣΑ (Greek)
Κάθε λέξη πλέκει
έναν ιστό στη ψυχή μας.
Κάθε ήχος γίνεται
αντίλαλος από το παρελθόν.
Kραδιενέργεια νικά το χρόνο
στη σάρκα του Χιμπακούσα.
Τα όνειρα διαλύονται
Hαι ξυπνούν στο παρόν
Η Ιαπωνία πάντα επιζεί.
Η Ιαπωνία τις μνήμες της ανασταίνει.
Ας κτυπήσει ένα τσουνάμι ειρήνης
όλα τα μυαλά στον πλανήτη γη.
Ας βρει ο Χιμπακούσα το χέρι της Νέμεσης.
Τη σωστή στιγμή να πλησιάσει τη δικαιοσύνη
ώστε το μέλλον να φέρει στη ζωή
το δέντρο του πυρηνικού αφοπλισμού.
Το θάνατο της ανθρώπινης απογοήτευσης.
Στα καλύτερα 10 του κόσμου στο διαγωνισμό των Ηνωμένων Εθνών
για τον πυρηνικό αφοπλισμό .
Despina Kontaxi (C)
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