Kostas Hrisos MSc, was born in Greece, moved to Newcastle in 1975 
where he lived ever since. He writes in Greek and English and his poems have been 
published in many Greek  and international magazines. A collection of  his work 
"In other words", was published in 2000 and received excellent reviews. He has 
translated poems from/into Greek and English and is currently finishing the translation 
of  Basil Bunting's "Briggflatts". 
 
He co-edited and designed the "Morden Poets" Anthology in 2003, and designed 
Adam Fish's collection"Diving Yemaya". He has read in Newcastle, London and was a 
guest reader in the "Olympiad of Writting" in Athens, Sept 2004. Currently studing for 
the MA in creative writing at Newcastle University.He is responsible for the Morden Tower 
(www.mordentower.com) and Franks Casket (www.frankscasket.com) websites.  
He is a keen amateur photographer and his photographs have been published 
on covers and in many art magazines. 
 


Mother

What it was that scared my mother
a year since she passed away
when I saw her in my dream 
I do not know

Her gaze full of keravnous1 tried to warn me
looking directly behind my back.
I turned and there was nothing there
I turned again and she had gone.



Μητέρα

Τι τρόμαξε την μάνα μου
στο χρόνο της απάνω
στον ύπνο σαν την είδα
δεν το ξέρω

Πίσω μου κοίταζε να προειδοποιήσει
με βλέμμα γεμάτο κεραυνό.  
Γύρισα και δεν ήταν τίποτα εκεί
Γύρισα πάλι κι είχε φύγει.

Blessed

I was blessed 
With the labour of the golden wheat
Bread for the body

I was blessed 
With the labour of the fleshy grape
Wine for the blood

I was blessed 
With the labour of the sweet olive
Oil for the kantili 2



Ευλογήθηκα

Ευλογήθηκα
με τον κόπο του χρυσού σιταριού
ψωμί για το σώμα

Ευλογήθηκα
με τον κόπο του γλυκού σταφυλιού
κρασί για το αίμα

Ευλογήθηκα
με τον κόπο της σαρκώδης ελιάς 
λάδι στο καντήλι.


The dilapidated pot

I look OK, for my age.
Without a head, just 
a big mouth that looks even bigger opened up.
No legs, just one arm;
But what do you expect?
I’m not a Greek Urn.




1   Keravnos: Thunderbolt
2   Kantili: the little light that burns with olive oil, 
                in front of the icons.  

The dream boat

Our dream, a small boat
in a peaceful seashore,
our freedom awaits
but no key for the door.

We broke the window
to sail away,
the weather turned nasty,
we drowned in the bay.