When the room becomes too tight. When the world becomes too narrow like the narrow alleys of childhood. When you are surrounded by four walls to confront everything that has ever happened to you, everything that has ever been done to you. When even books, writing, cooking, and the people around you can’t provide any solace or explanations to what is happening. When you get really close to understanding that split second in which a heart attack takes place!

I dedicate these poems to all the people who were prematurely cut from their times and places. To each human soul that wilted and lost its fragrance in exile.

I apologize in advance for not saying ‘here’s to a good luck,’ because I do not believe in luck. And if good luck does exist, I don’t need it anymore.

If it matters, let me whisper a secret in your ears: I have always felt that I was in the wrong place and the wrong time. I am forever out of time and out of place.

My eyes suddenly caught a vandalized sign on a door in a tight corner near Thrasyllou Street, which seemed like an intelligent twist of Charles Bukowski’s famous line “find what you love and let it kill you.” The line on the vandalized sign reversed this to make the meaning even more intense: “find out what kills you and love it!

Like a scared childsinging to himself in the dark,most people sooth themselvesWith the worn-out phrase:'Life goes on…'without being able to remember anymoreWhy should it go on?Few are those who dare to ask:How could life go on under such lifeless conditions?

The Eternal FriendsThe three eternal friends, Time, Loneliness and Death, met at a small old café.'You won’t last long. I will destroy you at the end,' said Time to Loneliness.'And I will drain every minute and every second in your life.Nothing will give you joy no matter what you do or how hard you try,' Loneliness responded.After a short silence, once Death pronounced its sentence, Loneliness vanished and Time passed.June 20, 2013

I want to have a cup of tea with all those whose eyes are fixated on leaving to the next place without realizing that all the beloved persons, places, and things left burning behind are waiting to confront them at the next destination.