Though Lyacos writes in Greek, much of his work has been published in foreign translation-particularly English-prior to being released in his native tongue, which adds to the nomadic feel of his work and personal experience. The book was published in separate sections, out of sequence and in various forms, but not until the Greek release of Z213 EXIT in 2009 did the project begin to take its current shape. With a keen, stream-of-consciousness style, Lyacos’ Poena Damni makes poignant observations about life and death, and the world we live in along with, perhaps more importantly, another distant existence that mirrors our own while offering glimpses of the absurd. The book was created over the course of thirty years and has been published in ten languages around the world - and two more are coming. His most widely known work is the Poena Damni trilogy, consisting of the books Z213 Exit With the People from the Bridge The First Death-part poem, part dramatic piece-presented as a series of journal entries.
Born in 1966 in Athens, Lyacos currently splits time between Greece and Germany. It’s the same non-traditional approach Lyacos applies to his work, the vivid poetry and prose that has established him as one of modern Greece’s most widely read and cherished poets. Rather than illuminate the glamorized, bohemian life of an artist, he lasers in on not only the trials of self-doubt and fatigue, but the resourceful craftiness and tireless determination that are all too often glossed over. However, unlike many writers who might romanticize both elements, Lyacos references not the proud vessel sailing the open waters, but the rickety boat in need of repair.
On the surface it seems a familiar comparison, this bridging of artistic craft and sea craft many a poet finding commonality in the realm of words and that of the sea, expansive as they are in their own right. Thus, he likened his creative pursuits to captaining a ship. “You are responsible for it: when something breaks down or fails to work, you have to fix it from the inside, you have to substitute a rotten plank with another from a different part of the boat you might find some driftwood if you get lucky, but in most cases you will work with what you already have.” Greek poet and playwright Dimitris Lyacos described his writing process in a 2016 interview with the Bitter Oleander journal. Greek poet and playwright Dimitris Lyacos is someone you should know.
0 kommentar(er)
