She was a Jew in Germany, when that became a crime
Hitler in power, but she left in time.
She thought back to friends she had
Incredulous laugh, then she looked sad.
She said all nations have a style
Good points, bad points, a kind of profile.
Those are the cards that nature dealt
This was genuinely the way she felt.
She gave her heart to a tall dark guy
He owned a department store, but money couldn't buy
Because on the Sabbath it had to be open
Her parents forbade any kind of eloping.
So she married my Opa, though she had doubt
The photo shows regret, but it did work out.
My other Grandma fell in love too
But he'd once divorced, so that was nixed too.
Odd to be descended from two second choices
And two women who didn't raise their voices.
Strange how people's lives are steered
One outcome was me, and I was weird.
A black sheep, or a wave of trouble
Don't come into my radius, into my bubble.
Their other descendants were much less odd.
So to the deity, a thankful nod.
Ouzo, oh ouzo,can make your head verily spin
But it made me feel like I was morphing into Aphrodite's twin!
And, more potent were your eyes stare and long eyelashes.
Dancing the Greek soldiers dance, OPA and in proud sashes.
Decades down life’s river, in the boat of life, we are one .
I close my eyes, still humming ‘Thessaloniki” loud and strong.
In a blue and white colored dream, I still caress your hand,
As we did long ago to a taunting, lively Bozouki band.
I shall blow out the gardenia candle and say good-night,
Loving you was, and is, forever~my soul’s precious delight..
Agape mou!
Panagiota
Notes on Ouzo!
Miracle Anise-flavored drink that can only be made in Greece
As of 2006, it received the EU-approved………………………..
PCO-Protected Country of Origin!
ke Motau šemane ya go ja di wela
Ke Motau lesogana kgaah! Šateeh ka tsena
Ke mopulana wa moswati
Lesogana la go hloka nyatsi
Tšešu ditaola ke rile go dirutwa ka tsena mong'waseloko ka yo tsoma
Ba nswayile tsebe go kwa bonkgolo
Bare "sa Mošemane a se go itaola "
Ke go tšwa lesolo a tšama tšwela babo mokgola
A ke tšwe mokhi ke nne, tšwa maruping a kgoši Sekwai
Tlase tlase thabeng tša go kguma ka tswai
Bare go mpona ba ka sefokeng
Ba opa magoswi bare "Thobela Morena!
Se mpone bosonyana wa nnyatša
Sešu sereto ke serutile phatlalatša
Ke serutilwe go jewa molatša ka dinawa tša maisimane a go tšwa mošola
Ruri ka nnete di ntšwetše mohola
Nteseng ke ithweše dipataka
Ke di file ke yola Rakgolo pele mathomong bupi e sale lepotetšana.
"I have enough fight in me,to devour the world!"
Zorba the Greek Movie
1964
Giving up, caving in, or falling in line,
Never sits well with me.
To me, it's a kind of pathetic, fatal lunacy.
It's up to me to stand up for what I deeply desire.
Or sit seeing my life burn away like a funeral pyre.
Days of pathetic passivity.....
Hoping someone might like my poetry.
Putting up with indignation, being ignored like a slave
on a Southern plantation!
Alas, too many decades doing anything for approval.
Dreaming my college degree, turned into an expensive
sheepskin made of gruel!
I had to find me, to not get bulldozed by humanity.
Not get told what schools my daughter could attend by
politically correct , crackpot insanity.
No, to all so-called authorities that can longer pull me
around like an animal with a ring in their nose!
Nor do I follow any which way the fetid, political wind blows!
A fighter, please do call me that!
Like Zorba, anything but a hapless bat.
~OPA~
April 27, 2020
1:30pm PST
~~~~~OPA~~~~~
This is the happiest day of my year!
At Saint Basil's Festival, in my heart.
You would see fireworks and hear the cheers.
Nothing can keep me from this Festival apart.
It's the kindness of Greeks, so sparkly of heart.
It's my home on this earth.
So though I will be not online this morning~
You , who support me, are going with me, no warning.
Of Greek pastries and food you will sup,
And even Retsina.. drink up, drink up.
Ah, the Frappes and music divine.
A few Greek circle dances, you will feel more than divine!
Love,
Panagiota
Greek Festival
I've waited an entire year for this!
More exciting than Christmas,
for me...
If only I had a wish list.
The foods magnificent, the love
expressed tastefully, yet simply
extravagant.
The aroma of Frappes and gyros
set me reeling.
Stuffed grape leaves and the best
pastitsio on earth.
Cooked by volunteer cooks~
sweating with love and mirth.
Another time of communal OPA,
with great feeling.
The dancing, oh!
The Sirtaki and the wonderful,
Hasapiko.which are danced with
beauty and total grace!
There's no better time than this.
It leaves a beaming smile on my
face.
Greek bread drives me to total
gastronomic oblivion.
Pastries, lift me to heaven, off
I go!
Ah, Greek Festival, one more
special event with Hellenic,
great feeling!
"Philitomo", well you have to look
that one up-:))
As it has multiple meanings.
Thank you.
Panagiota Romios
August 2, 2019
6pm PST
Greek Independence Day
March 25, 2019
Congratulations and OPA to the Greek
nation,
Which suffered 400 years of Turkish
domination.
And now you are free!!
Light the Saganaki, pass those very
luscious stuffed grape leaves,too.
Let's have some Mavrodafni and
Have more than a circle dance or two!
OPA with love,
Panagiota Romios
3/25/2019
Grandfather,
How can I be proud of the things you have done?
The mistakes you have made?
How can I be proud of the things you regret?
The things you too would rather forget.
The memories that haunted you and drove you to drink?
Your daughter, my mother taught me to forgive,
How, faced with adversity, she taught me how to live
She showed how love and forgiveness could always conquer all,
Her wisdom showed me clearly, mistakes are made by all
The man I knew as opa, was frail and weak and lonely
He bought me a silver ring, made a speech at my wedding
Each day burdened with regrets, he faced his demons daily
Until they took him to the darkest places, where he stood alone.
So perhaps I judge too harshly, choices I have not faced
When I reminisce about my time, I know I too
Will have regrets, and hope
That future generations will forgive,
With the clarity of hindsight those paths I preferred not to tread
On this fine chilled day I find myself writing, not pouring a sad heart on this canvas, but sharing my joy with the world, there may not be a sad deep meaning, but these are days to be cherished! Sitting yelling opa with family and friends, as the greek patron sets the meal to a mouth watering blaze. Days… days like these are unforgettable. To share a feast with those I cherish, makes me want to share… share with you, in hopes that you realize true beauty, and friendship! I love all who agree, and feel sorry for those that just scroll by.
Happy Days
-Downed Jester
Opening
her dome like a
fresco
Pixels of
night gleam from
atop
As stars
wink, Neuth twirls
the nova
Lining her
cape with studs of
opal.
Entranced,
buds glide on a
lattice
Soaking in
the mist of
twilight’s
hems.
Calmly, the
moon dims the
magic
Embers like
beams of Sky Lady
invite
Nestling air
for child’s bed
story’s yawn
To drift upon
eyes; good
times,good
night!
* for some reason,
the page only allows
a narrow space which
disarranges the
lines
from their proper
layout...
* Neuth--Egyptian
Goddess of the Sky
''''''''''''''''''''''''
Judy Konos' How's
Your Acrostic
*Mirror
Acrostic:First and
last letter
of each line are the
same
8/26/2014 by nette
onclaud
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