"The Madman"  is a fascinating and deeply ironic poem by Georgios Souris from 1888.  Souris  begins by describing the "Madman" (a British visitor) weeping at the sight of the Parthenon's missing marbles  (the artifacts removed by Lord Elgin   in the early 19th century and shipped to Britain , and now held in the British Museum  in London)   and then writing to Queen Victoria to return them to Greece. This action of the Madman  represents Western romanticization of Greek antiquity. Souris mocks this performative grief, highlighting its irrelevance to contemporary Greeks. The madman’s unsolicited letter - "Who told this fool to write about the marbles?"  -  to Queen Victoria underscores foreign interference.  But Souris' pen doesn't stop there. While critisizing the British, he also cauterizes the Greek apathy and indifference - " we do not care at all, no one has asked anything of him, no one want...

  THIS HUMOROUS POEM BY Georgios Souris could be a jab at a person’s unexpected path to becoming a cook in the army. First the port poet informs us that we or he   or somebody will become a cook and will be forced to wash meat and feed the masses.   He also so also tells us that this will happen in the army. But things are not simple because there is pressure.   We are informed that whether we already know how to cook or not, we will be forced to do it even in peaceful times otherwise we go to prison.   Now the poets talk in the first person and says that his mind twists and turns and he is desperately asking for help and is ready to get it even from the almanac where sometimes recipes were printed.   Finally the poet calls   upon his   muse   to come and help him with the cooking. Let's get down to the  poem and it's translation in English: (Τhe Greek spelling is that which the poet uses. Some words are written differently ...

In this poem Souris discourses the matter of politicians and how they become friendly with anybody when the electoral period is nearing. Who is this man? By Georgios Souris Translated in English by Naya Nomikou in December 22, 2022. Recently, a tall man with a tall hat and a smiling face, greets me whenever he meets with me. I wonder who he is and am troubled. He looks at me and I at him, he waves at me, and I wave at him. But I still don’t know who he is. Perhaps, he is short-sighted like me, and his eyes play tricks on him. I wonder... Were we schoolmates perhaps, or maybe old friends? But I am told that his behavior is the same towards other people too; and so, I conclude that the guy is running for mayor and greets us all so that he’ll win our votes! Copyright © 2021-2023 - Naya Nomikou You can listen to the Greek poem on the link below. Turn on the subs and from the gear icon choose English, for the English subtitles to appear.

 The poem "Abolition" was written in 1885, two years after the Greek government of Harilaos Trikoupis declared bankruptcy. This led to the imposition of the International Financial Control on Greece. Abolition By Georgios Souris Translated in English by Naya Nomikou in December 11th 2022. For the nation is suffering   and because there is no hope,   for the Treasury has no money at all:   We abolish the embassies and their ambassadors.   We order everyone to come to Athens immediately,   leaving in his  position only the ambassador in Constantinople.   Cause everybody is burdened with taxes,   because the Greeks can't take it any more,   because both Trikoupis and the Country are failing due to the taxes on oil, cigarettes and wine,   and because our pockets were emptied of money:   We abolish all the direct and indirect taxes.   Because all positions require qualifications,   we are abolishi...

"What a life..." is a poem written by the Greek poet Georgios Souris, translated in Enlgish by Naya Nomikou in September 2022. Τhe poem satirizes the continuing alternation between two politicians (Trikoupis and Deligiannis) in the life of the political Greek scene of the 1880's. In spite of this alteration of the two politicians, which is nothing new, everything else in life remains the same as well. The difficulties, struggles and hard life of the people doesn't change no matter who politician gets elected. "What a life..." By Georgios Souris Translated by Naya Nomikou   You don't know what to write, you don't know what to do! You open your mouth and you feel bewildered and aghast... Same old, same old... Trikoupis - Deligiannis, but great Molaitis pops up in the mix. Nobody knows what the devil to say anymore, and if we go on and on like this, it's no good.   You don't know what to write, you don't know what to do! Same old, same old.....

 "Mayoral programs" is a poem written by the Greek poet Georgios Souris, translated in Enlgish by Naya Nomikou (September 2022). Τhe poem is a satire on the announcements of politicians before any elections. "Mayoral programs" by Georgios Souris Translated by Naya Nomikou   I see mayoral programs wherever I look, and I carefully read them with relish. What great projects! What pompous wonders! They' ll really make our city a diamond to look at. They' ll built theatres and orchards! Gardens, schools, streets, squares!   The city's treasury will be filled with pounds. and all its debts will be paid at once, and the revenues of the city from five that were, shall be fifteen and twenty... Oh dear me! Water and fountains will abound, and the lovely Athens shall become a sea.   Our city shall be like a glorious bride, Smallpox and typhus shall be extinguished, there will be no more sick people, and the doctors shall be...

 "As if the rest wasn't enough" is a poem written by the Greek poet Georgios Souris, translated in Enlgish by Naya Nomikou (September 2022). God, what a waste - - and what a disgrace There! There! Earthquake is still shaking the ground. and thunder from the hollow of the hollows reaches us, I wonder what God is thinking of and decided to blow off steam on us. In the midst of so many political storms, he fights against us alongside others. Whereunto has this place sinned so far? Who is responsible for the cantankerous state we're in  so that as soon as a thunderstorm  quiets down, a sudden fire flares up? Who is so jinxed that causes us so much "joy" and "prosperity"? Whereunto this place has sinned so far, since it is left to blissful peace, and doesn't seek to shake the peace of the world, unlike many others often do? All we needed was for five or ten years to not encounter a jinxed person, to have no earthquakes, no sickness or floods and to ...

Georgios Souris (Greece 1853 - 1919) was a prolific satirical poet, beloved and known throughout Greece. Nominated five times for the Nobel Prize, he never received it, probably due to the topics he addressed. He wrote about Greece and the Greeks, mercilessly satirizing the daily life of citizens, politicians, kings and rulers. At least twice he was brought to the attention of the authorities and prosecuted. The first was in 1896 when he satirised King George and the second in 1897 when his poem 'Fasoulis converses with Lady Fasoulis' was considered insulting to Queen Olga and to the institution of kingship.  From 1883 to 1918 he published the four-page weekly satirical newspaper 'The Romios', which was so popular that it was a good source of income for Souris, not a small feat for a poet of any era. Under the tag/label  "Georgios Souris" i will be publishing poems of Souris that i translate in English and also add the poem in Greek, as reference, so that mayb...