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.
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.
The poetry below from Emmanuel Aligizakis’ book “AUTUMN LEAVES” released by Ekstasis Editions
ISBN 978-1-77171-033-6
Poetry
188 pages
6 x 9
In tree branches
rustle of leaves
definition of fall
soft landing
under my soles
secretly played game
grayish, foggy
October morning
prompts smile
anticipation
of fiery April
resurrection
philosophy of leaves
exegesis
harmony
purpose
JUSTIFICATION
I strode over
fallen branches
victims of last night’s
merciless wind
listened to music in tune
withendless perfection
then the chirp of the bird
raised my head
saw it, a chickadee
on the tree limb
justification
this day
alive that I was
AMORPHOUS
Before I entered the uterus
I was there
smoke of a fire slowly extinguishing
wind hitting your blue window
crack of your being, a tight grip
song of the funeral procession
before I took the shape of life
before I choose my name
I was there
scent of a colorful rose
the bird’s first flutter
before I entered the trap of flesh
the softest wave of the sea I was
lone eagle on rocky promontory
from high up watching over you
before I was born I was
the shapeless freedom
companion of the infinite
a simple sigh destined
to scar your lips
there I was
the joyous chime of a bell
there I was
the indeterminable
For other contributions by Emmanuel Aligizakis, please follow the links below:
Poetry in this post: © Emmanuel Aligizakis
Published with the permission of Emmanuel Aligizakis