Τσαλουμάς: Μεσογειακή λεπτομέρεια με φόντο τη Δύση

Abstract

In this paper we are referring to the poetry of one of the most important Australian Greek born poets, Dimitris Tsaloumas. The paper is divided into four parts. In the first part we are introduced to the poem «Automn supper», belonging to his collection of poetry Falcon Drinking published in 1988. We are particularly drawn to the last verse «I cannot share my hunger». It is strange that the Mediterranean context of this poem, where a table is set near the sea at sunset, is everything that should appeal for a shared supper, yet in the end this does not eventuate. «The bread, the wine, the poet» referred to in the second part places the previous situation in a wider context. There are references to other similar situations referring or related to the common experience of sharing food at the end of the day. The examples are given from Sikelianos, the Old Testament, etc. In the third part of the poem «Falcon» we find ourselves analysing the poem «Falcon Drinking» of Tsaloumas' poetry belonging to the same collection of poetry referred to above. From the analysis, it is obvious to see that the poet decides to adopt the position of loneliness and «hunger and thirst». This is of course the common figure of the Western poet for the last two centuries. The conclusion of the paper in particular the fourth part, «With west in the background» (west also meaning the Western World) indicates that instead of sharing food and wine on a table facing the Mediterranean sunset the poet choses to state «I cannot share my hunger».