some documents ...

 Themis Liveriadis

"Three Seas' waves" memories *   ( Nov' 1994 )

It was our first day in Odessa. All day we had been visiting the most interesting places of the nice town. Early afternoon our last visit was the famous opera. Whereafter, leaving our shopping on the buses, we started walking through the big garden to the final destination of the day, a big theater-place, where - as it was planned, we would attend a farewell event enjoying folk dances etc.
As dark and fog was spreading around, we were walking through many busts so that we had the feeling that we were accompanied by them...At a moment, some six of us – as far as I remember – Dimitris Kalokyris, Antonis Sourounis, and Anastassis Vistonitis stopped short, asking from Thanassis Valtinos, who was aside and closer to a nice bust, to read the name...Whom was representing...And then followed this unforgettable talk :
- Pushkin...Alexander Pushkin ! sounded off Thanassis Valtinos.
- Ah !...Another fellow-worker !..., replied Dimitris Kalokyris.
- Well, if you are Pushkin's fellow-worker...then I should be Brigitte Bardo's !...rounded off the sentence with her characteristic-loud voice, Katerina Angellaki-Rooke !

I could hardly think of another sample of such "high class" ready wit in my life. Since that moment, I felt in love with Katerina...but I never let her know !
I guess she is enough shrewd indeed !...

I recall memories and friends that have left our big family...Aloi Sideri, Costis Moskoff, Alexei Zverev, Can Yücel...
I still remember Antonis Samarakis, clasping my arm just a few steps before passing the control at Odessa duane. "Themis, please do explain to them that I can not pass through this control gate...because of my pacemaker...It will stop and that could be the end..."
End is always coming, Antonis ... wherever we are... Endless is the idea, like ours - which was born that November of 1994, upon the... "World renaissance".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Published into the Jubilee Volume, 2006 for 10th anniversary of the International Writer's Center in Rhodes.

"Stormy weather" in Kas                               ( Turkey )
Th. Liveriadis' speech at Kas' "International Poetry meeting"      ( 7 Oct' 2004 )

Dear fellows,
Early this morning, before landing to Kastelloriso, there was a sea turn...Later on, Nicos, the captain of the small boat, got the permission to bring us, under the smiles of sun and ours' nice hostess Sezer, across the coast-here, in Kas.
During lunch time at that nice garden I've realized once again that Turkish cuisine is like the Greek one but still more authentic in taste. We had the pleasure to be met with Tekin, "brother" in poetry, from Istanbul. He was charmingly insisting : "it's easy to remember my name : "take-in...to your heart !" He knew how to listen as well as to behave my fears and tears. We were the last ones that leave the place...woozy from the wine.
After good-bye kisses, I've started making the grade towards my hotel...It was then that the dog appeared again. This time I had to treat a...foreign dog ! He came close to me smelling and licking my shoes, those shoes, so "dirty" throughout years' running". It seemed to me he had the shape of my dead father...I went down...
...So, by now, reaching this nice evening and hall, I'd like to read to you, kindly asking to be considered as my participation to our meeting, one of my texts, written...since 1967 !...Afterwards I'll try to couple it with some kind of a personal confession to you... It's title is :

The dawn

I had heard about it but I didn't pay any attention until I saw them with my own eyes. Some while before the dawn, when it is still dark, they appeared from that corner of the upper town, coming along St.Dimitrios' street. They fill almost all its width. When you first see them flowing down the road, you can't believe your eyes. So many living beings in the heart of a dead town. Like a white river.
As it was the first time, I felt surrounded. They were so warm, spreading their dirty smell. Then I saw the black dog. On the other side... He had already distinguished me from those sheep and goats. Rearing on his hind legs, he showed all his teeth suspiciously, smelling my fear...
Soon enough I realised that it was better for me to stay with them. I was hoping, if possible, that this flow would never stop. Their stink had become mine. And their fur so warmed me at that day-break, I had surrendered to their protection.
I always knew that sometime it would happen. Now this wild black dog is waiting for me... He is powerful, with strong legs and pointed teeth. I know that I will not fight.
Everything that comes after will be humiliation.

Well, my dear friends before stepping-down, I should pass to you a few words concerning the text ...Its first writing was many-many years ago, describing what I had lived. Of course, throughout the time that went by, I had some different readings of it ( the latest one was on 2001, in Paris ) realising year by year that in this text there was some kind of prophecy – for me...
Thus, today, the evening of 7th October of two thousand's four, I am confessing to you, with all my heartiness, a recent detection : since my conscious age, there was a black dog trying to tear me up asunder...I never knew either his "name" or his motive...Probably, it has to do with a "symbol" of resistance, perhaps an "alter ego" refusing to be part of the flock...So many years – almost my entire life, living such an agony...
Actually, I come to believe by now that I am no more in...danger, as well... hidden among you !...  I've finally become yours'...Thank you !

I am leaving you ... "à la maniére de" ... Thomas Stern Eliot :
Good night Sezer, good night Tekin, good night Dmitri, good night Bente, goodnight gentlemen, good night ladies, sweet ladies...