Poetry shortly before, shortly after 1821 The Greek poetry of today Important Greek poets in Metro The Hellenic Cultural Foundation celebrates World Poetry Day with three important events that will be announced through the internet, Cosmote's History channel and the screens of the Athens metro and will bring lyrics, dreams, ideas, feelings into our homes and into our hearts . The President of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation, Mr. Nikos A. Koukis, points out, among other things, in his greeting for World Poetry Day: "Poetry is the most ancient and the most primitive literary genre. Homer's epic poetry narrates mythical stories from the depths of the centuries in measured language and is preserved to this day as a global literary heritage". The events in detail: "Poetry shortly before shortly after 1821 and the modern Greek Enlightenment" In collaboration with the Society of Authors The Hellenic Cultural Foundation and the Society of Writers are collaborating this year to celebrate World Poetry Day and invite you to watch online a multifaceted event with the theme: "Poetry, shortly before shortly after 1821 and the modern Greek Enlightenment". strong> The event, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, presents aspects of pre-revolutionary Greek poetry through rare musical and pictorial material and readings of poems by the actors Olia Lazaridou, Marilita Lambropoulou, Yiannis Daliani, speeches by the academics Yiannis Kokkonas, Yiannis Xouria, Katerinas Tiktopoulos, while poetry by Dionysios Solomos is sung by the soprano Sonia Theodoridou. The President of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation Nikos A. Koukis and the President of the Society of Writers Giorgos Chouliaras address greetings. Organized and coordinated by Elena Houzouri, writer, member of the Board of Directors. of the Society of Authors. The event will be broadcast on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at 19:00, by the digital channels of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation and the Society of Writers. *** CONTEMPORARY POETRY EVENT "21 poets for March 21, 2021" Poetic Anthology in collaboration with the Poets' Circle On the occasion of World Poetry Day and with the aim of breathing the cool breeze of verses into the repetitive monotony of our days, the Hellenic Foundation of Culture, in collaboration with the Poets' Circle, presents online a poetry lecture with videotaped recitations of 21 poets. Participants: Giorgos Veis, Anna Griva, Veroniki Dalakouras, Zefi Darakis, Yiannis Efthymiadis, Ioulita Iliopoulou, Alexandros Isaris, Kostas Kanavouris, Antonis Makridimitris, George Markopoulos, Konstantinos Bouras, Iro Nikopoulou, Paulina Pamboudi, Costas G. Papageorgiou, Aristeas Papalexandrou, Stratis Paschalis, Yannis Patilis, Thomas Tsalapatis, Thanasis Hatzopoulos, Dimitra H. Christodoulou and George K. Psaltis. The recorded recitals will be broadcast on the Cosmote History TV channel on Sunday, March 21, 2021, during the program stream and on the digital channels of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation and the Poets' Circle. *** Lyrics take us on a journey In collaboration with Attiko Metro Poetry takes us on a journey, so what makes more sense than reading it on the platforms from subway screens. The Hellenic Foundation of Culture, in collaboration with Attiko Metro, presents lyrics by well-known Greek authors, giving us the occasion to remember, to look back, to look for their work. The lyrics are by the poets: Kikis Dimoulas, Odysseas Elytis, Giorgos Themelis, Nikos Karouzou, Yiannis Kontou, Tasos Livaditis, D.P. Papaditsa, Miltos Shaktouris and Dinos Christianopoulos. *** World Poetry Day 2021 Greeting from the president of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Mr. Nikos A. Koukis Dear friends, March 21 today, the day of the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of Spring, but also a day that has been established as the World Day of Poetry, the highest and perhaps noblest form of art. After all, Poetry is the most ancient and most primitive literary genre. Homer's epic poetry narrates mythical stories from the depths of the centuries in measured language and is preserved to this day as a global literary heritage. The Greeks then developed lyric and dramatic poetry, laying the foundations of writing in the Western Language. Poetry gave Greece two Nobel Prizes: With Seferis in 1963 and with Elytis in 1979. The poetic speech of our important poets captured the small and large moments of history. It became a song, spread and loved as a collective, national and often global expression. Poetry is difficult to define, because it captures the soul and appeals to emotion. "Poetry is the development of a polished bicycle" said Nikos Eggonopoulos in the language of Surrealism. "Poetry is the refuge we envy", according to Karyotakis. While Seferis places the art of poetry at the core of our existence: "Poetry has its roots in the human breath." The Hellenic Cultural Foundation is celebrating World Poetry Day 2021 with three online events honoring: - contemporary poetry, in collaboration with the Poets' Circle, - "Poetry shortly before, shortly after 1821", in collaboration with the Writers' Society - the Greek poetic discourse, with verses by our important poets on the Metro screens. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation, I express my warm thanks for the nice and fruitful cooperation to all those who contributed to the realization of this great celebration of Poetry! Nikos A. Koukis President of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation