ZACHAROULA GAITANAKI

ZACHAROULA GAITANAKI

OLIVE  TREE

A primeval shape of calm and peace,

olive, holy tree of Athena Pallada.

Your Holly oil a divine mercy

and your wreath branch

an award in ancient Greece.

A few humble olive branches

crowned the winners of the Olympic Games

sending with loud and clear voice

their message through the Ages.

People walk in unison,

athletes compete with emulation

to get ahead with ethos,

countries of the Earth

with harmony collaborate.

Give a promise to unite enemies,

warriors give up your arms

and in your bloody hands

keep an olive branch of reconciliation.

A SUMMER’S LOVE

In the middle of the summer

her heart yields from Love.

This is something unexpected.

She wished: “It will go soon,

it will disappear”.

She closed her eyes wishing good – bye

to the August etesian winds.

Autumn came and love stays yet

in the same place.

“Come” beckons her.

“Follow me. Trust me”.

Yields her heart light,

cheated out of lust and sweetness.

“Until you leave” she thought,

“I want to live with my dream”.

And she followed tile tracks

that her yearning leaves

behind on the seashore

of the temporary happiness…

GOD’S LOVE

I felt and I feel,

Your Love, dear God.

You set free every yearning

of my heart.

You give wings

in every though of mine.

You soften every pain

and near You

I’m not afraid,

because You solve

every problem of mine.

TREASURES

Time, History and Memory

they clap, cheer, keep silent.

Treasures put down

in their depths,

all that haven’t been

written and told…

ZACHAROULA GAITANAKI

GREECE

DR. ZACHAROULA GAITANAKI was born in Athens on November 30th, 1966. Now, she is a small farmer and lives with her family in Zoni, a small Arcadian village in Peloponnese. She writes poems, articles, short stories, essays, novels and review of  book.  She is also a translator  of books of poetry. She is a life member of the “World Academy of Arts and  Culture”  /  “World Congress of Poets” (which awarded her the title of the Honorary Doctor of Literature) and of the IWA (International Writers Association). She is a member of the “World Poets Society” and of the “Asociacion Mundial de Escritores – A.M.E.” of  Spain (No 3299). Member of “Poetas del Mundo” («Poets of the World»). Her poems, short stories and essays have appeared  in foreign and Greek Anthologies, they have been translated into English, French, Italian, Albanian, Bengali, Russian, Hungarian, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and have won prizes in national and international literary competitions.  She selected by “The International Poetry Translation and Research Centre” and the Journal of “The World Poets Quarterly” one of “The International Best Translators 2005” (China, 2006) and by the Greek Literary Club “Xasteron” as “The Best Greek Translator of the year 2007” (March, 22, 2008). “Best Poet of the Year 2012” by the IPTRC. “Best Translator of 2013” by the “International Writers and Artists Association – IWA”. She has published the books: 1.-  “DISSIMILAR  LANDSCAPES” (Poetry collection), Athens, 2001.    2.-   “POTIS KATRAKIS, A PROLIFIC  WRITER” (Essay), Athens 2003.   3.-  “STATHIS  GRIVAS – WRITING FOR LIFE  – Tracking in his poetical space”.  Essay), editions “Platanos”, Athens, 2006.  4.- «200 YEARS ZONI (1810 – 2010)», a special edition (with 59 photos), “Morfotikos Exoraistikos Syllogos Zonis of Arcadia”,  2010   and 5.- “POTIS KATRAKIS – ROUTE TO CREATION”, (Essay), Athens (1st edition: 2012, 2nd edition: June 2013), Editions “Lexitipon”. Country of origin: GREECE Mother language: Greek Nationality: Greek Place of living: ZONI, a small Arcadian village