After the journeyAfter the journey

Poems by studentsPoems by students Of Of

Model Experimental Ionidios Junior High School, Model Experimental Ionidios Junior High School, Peireaus, GreecePeireaus, Greece

20152015

Teacher in charge: Teacher in charge: Anastasia Paraskevoulakou,Anastasia Paraskevoulakou, English,MA English,MA

• So this year the So this year the Castello di Duino Poetry ContestCastello di Duino Poetry Contest topic was: ‘After the topic was: ‘After the Journey’Journey’

• The students developed short writing tasks and then travelled in their own The students developed short writing tasks and then travelled in their own poems.poems.

• We also studied the poem “I carry your heart with me” by E. E. Cummings We also studied the poem “I carry your heart with me” by E. E. Cummings and experimented on poems written by the students. They had to use the and experimented on poems written by the students. They had to use the title and write their own poem.title and write their own poem.

Dear reader,Dear reader,Before reading the poems,Before reading the poems,Fasten your seat belt,Fasten your seat belt,Close your eyesClose your eyesAnd travelAnd travelTo a no-language world.To a no-language world.Listen to the birds; Listen to the birds; open your eyes, open your eyes, Look at the sky,Look at the sky,And as you are lowering your sight to earth,And as you are lowering your sight to earth,Pick up that pen and write a sentence from your life.Pick up that pen and write a sentence from your life.Now, you are ready to move on.Now, you are ready to move on. Anastasia Paraskevoulakou Anastasia Paraskevoulakou

After the journeyAfter the journey

When I waWhen I wass young youngI didn't know so much,I didn't know so much,

but the time camebut the time cameand I had to grow up.and I had to grow up.

I had to study,I had to study,I had to agreeI had to agree

I had obligations and rightsI had obligations and rightsnothing less and nothing more to benothing less and nothing more to be;;

that's not the right I used to think that's not the right I used to think that's not how I should bethat's not how I should be

so the rebelion startedso the rebelion startedbutbut,, soon soon, it, it ended ended..

I was still growing up.I was still growing up.They used to say to me They used to say to me 

that's life but I was still madthat's life but I was still mad..After After the the yearsyears,, I had I had realized realized

that's lifethat's life,,the change of situationsthe change of situations,,

whetherwhether like it or not like it or not..

by Natalia Tribounaby Natalia Tribouna  

An unforgettable journeyAn unforgettable journey

Let’s start our journey.Let’s start our journey.The limit is not the sky, The limit is not the sky, The limit is not the stars.The limit is not the stars.You are a bird that only fliesYou are a bird that only fliesin a sky full of memories.in a sky full of memories.You are a butterfly in the forestYou are a butterfly in the forestOf colorful dreams.Of colorful dreams.You always see remarkable things.You always see remarkable things.Extraordinary flowers in all romantic scenes,Extraordinary flowers in all romantic scenes,A lot of clever princes and really great kings!A lot of clever princes and really great kings!And now the journey begins. And now the journey begins. Let’s get lost in the stars, Let’s get lost in the stars, Let’s play our guitars.Let’s play our guitars.The night is awesomeThe night is awesomeLife is a miracle.Life is a miracle.Let’s go to the sea,Let’s go to the sea,Let’s swim in the oceanLet’s swim in the oceanDear darling, we’re free!Dear darling, we’re free!

by Ioanna Athanasiadouby Ioanna Athanasiadou

Long JourneyLong Journey

I carry your heart with me I carry your heart with me to keep me warmto keep me warmin a long journeyin a long journeyaround the worldaround the worldto keep me safe.to keep me safe.

by Moraitis Argirisby Moraitis Argiris

After the journeyAfter the journey

Everything seems different,Everything seems different,the skies are clear,the skies are clear,no empty promises,no empty promises,I’m just surrounded by feelingsI’m just surrounded by feelingswhich demand more feelings.which demand more feelings. by Mpotsi Zetaby Mpotsi Zeta

Right in the Heart of WinterRight in the Heart of Winter

Silence in the deep forest.Silence in the deep forest.Snow everywhere.Snow everywhere.Outside my window,Outside my window,I see roses falling from the sky. I see roses falling from the sky. It must be the sweetness of deathIt must be the sweetness of deathafter the journey, I guess.after the journey, I guess.

by Antonis Sryridakosby Antonis Sryridakos

PoemPoem

I'd love to change the world I'd love to change the world tto make it peacefulo make it peaceful,,tto fill it with loveo fill it with love,,tto destroy that piece of papero destroy that piece of paper

with a number on itwith a number on it,,called moneycalled money..I’d love to cutI’d love to cut off off the world the world from electricityfrom electricity;;  to equal every being to equal every being I'd love to change the worldI'd love to change the world,,  to build my to build my own journey.own journey.

by Agapitos Dovlesby Agapitos Dovles

WonderingWondering I travelled to a leafy placeI travelled to a leafy place once once..The birds were singing,The birds were singing,the sun was shininingthe sun was shininingand the sea adorned the landscape.and the sea adorned the landscape.There, There, I met a man who lived nearby.I met a man who lived nearby.The village wasThe village was so peaceful so peaceful that I started wondering,that I started wondering,how much could how much could a journey change the way you thinka journey change the way you think..No one can answer thisNo one can answer this..YYou ou just have to just have to ask yourself about it.ask yourself about it.

by Nicolas Sioutas by Nicolas Sioutas

Lonely TripLonely Trip

We all going to die one day.We all going to die one day.But the point isBut the point iswhich day we are going to choose.which day we are going to choose.‘‘Cause each day isCause each day isa different path in the woods.a different path in the woods.Make your own choice.Make your own choice.Because on that trip,Because on that trip,you are alone.you are alone. by Asimenia Galaniby Asimenia Galani

After the JourneyAfter the Journey

When the clock of the world ticked When the clock of the world ticked midnight,midnight,It was time to begin my journey,It was time to begin my journey,To explore myself at night.To explore myself at night.In the misty eveningIn the misty eveningI began my journey within, with I began my journey within, with fear;fear;And, through the darkest night,And, through the darkest night,I felt someone whispering in my I felt someone whispering in my ear.ear.I travelled through paradise, I travelled through paradise, travelled through hell,travelled through hell,revealing my mysteries revealing my mysteries which cut my breath short.which cut my breath short.Oh, myself!Oh, myself!After the journey into hellAfter the journey into hell

I hope I will find you again.I hope I will find you again.What can the human be without What can the human be without himself-himself-Just like life without breathJust like life without breathJust like a fantasy.Just like a fantasy.Why to know oneself ?Why to know oneself ?‘‘Cause not having a character is Cause not having a character is similar to being dead.similar to being dead.You are not going to be graded You are not going to be graded only for knowledge.only for knowledge.Your value isn’t a college.Your value isn’t a college.Under the stars’ dim light,Under the stars’ dim light,I could see in the darkest corners I could see in the darkest corners of my mind,of my mind, understanding why I fight with understanding why I fight with myself, myself, And, in the end, we reconciled.And, in the end, we reconciled. by Chris Moraitisby Chris Moraitis

Taking OffTaking Off

After such a long journey,After such a long journey,our minds will be broadened,our minds will be broadened,our eyes will have seen amazing things.our eyes will have seen amazing things.

A journey is something huge,A journey is something huge,it's not a trip,it's not a trip,not a simple excursion,not a simple excursion,it's an amazing experience.it's an amazing experience.

The airplane is taking off,The airplane is taking off,andand,, in a few hours, in a few hours,we will be landing we will be landing oon new grounds.n new grounds.

After the journey,After the journey,all will be accomplished,all will be accomplished,yetyet,, our memories our memorieswill never be lost!will never be lost!

by Nikolas Dasiosby Nikolas Dasios

WithinWithin

The only journey is the one withinThe only journey is the one within. . YYou must begin that long journey ou must begin that long journey discovediscovering the ring the real real you.you.YYou are realou are real,, all people are real all people are real. . YYou must learn how to ou must learn how to throw your honestythrow your honestyInto Into a running streama running stream,,beating the darkness in yourselfbeating the darkness in yourself. . by Vasiliki Panagiotarakouby Vasiliki Panagiotarakou

UniversUnivers ee

I have a house I have a house At the edge of the sky, At the edge of the sky, At the end of my life’s rainbow At the end of my life’s rainbow And I will stay there And I will stay there After the journey.After the journey.I have a friend I have a friend WhoWho has been waiting has been waiting for me for meFor thousand yearsFor thousand years..He has met me He has met me But he wouldn’t know But he wouldn’t know As we look the sameAs we look the same.. I have a book of thoughts I have a book of thoughts Locked up in a castle of stoneLocked up in a castle of stoneWhich you can’t visit Which you can’t visit As you will never find itAs you will never find it.. ItIt’’s hidden up in a mountain s hidden up in a mountain Next to a forest of clouds Next to a forest of clouds

Close to the lake of flowersClose to the lake of flowers..I have a key I have a key To open the door of my worldTo open the door of my worldBut I threw it awayBut I threw it awayIn the well of infinityIn the well of infinityAnd now I can’t open the door And now I can’t open the door I can only I can only look outside look outside a small a small windowwindow..HoweverHowever,, I will get in the house I will get in the house..Meet my frienMeet my friend,d,Read my bookRead my book,,And find the keAnd find the key.y.After the journeyAfter the journey,,The long journey that I have to finishThe long journey that I have to finishThe journey of my lifeThe journey of my life..

by Irene Tzerbouby Irene Tzerbou

JourneyJourney

Let's go on a journey,Let's go on a journey,Let's hit the road,Let's hit the road,Let's pack our things,Let's pack our things,And go abroad.And go abroad.Let's see new placesLet's see new placesAnd explore.And explore.Let's find the purposeLet's find the purposeWe're all looking for.We're all looking for.Let's go on a journey,Let's go on a journey,Let's discover truth,Let's discover truth,Let's meet new peopleLet's meet new peopleAnd eat new food.And eat new food.

Let's experience new culturesLet's experience new culturesAnd love planet earthAnd love planet earthFor it is alwaysFor it is alwaysThe point of birth.The point of birth.Let's go on a journey,Let's go on a journey,Let's hit the road,Let's hit the road,Let's set off to places,Let's set off to places,Whether you're GreekWhether you're GreekOr you're a toad.Or you're a toad.And let the journey will reach an And let the journey will reach an endendWith the brightest smile.With the brightest smile. by Anne-Sideri Zachariouby Anne-Sideri Zachariou

The last journey is l ike a The last journey is l ike a dream.dream.

We feel so small We feel so small among among this worldthis world,,The last journey is so coldThe last journey is so coldLike a story that's untold.Like a story that's untold.

Fly away with your wingsFly away with your wings,,Try harder to touch the skyTry harder to touch the skyIt doesn't matter that is high.It doesn't matter that is high.

Then, your journey will be sweet Then, your journey will be sweet Like a long, colorful dream, Like a long, colorful dream, Like a flower in the Spring.Like a flower in the Spring.

But be carefulBut be careful,, while you are flying while you are flying,,It might be hurtIt might be hurt,, falling in life falling in life;;Just keep going until you finish that Just keep going until you finish that short mileshort mile..

AndAnd, , when you realize that it's overwhen you realize that it's over,,  You will be with happy,You will be with happy, FFully covered.ully covered.

Then, you will lie on the grassThen, you will lie on the grass,,WWatching all your life passatching all your life pass by. by.You won't be afraid any moreYou won't be afraid any moreAs your tears As your tears will be will be dancing dancing in a in a stormstorm..  

We are dreaming in bright colorsWe are dreaming in bright colors,,We are dreaming along We are dreaming along with with othersothersFor a different journey in this worldFor a different journey in this worldFull of Hopes, Peace and Love.Full of Hopes, Peace and Love.

by Emanouella Vermaby Emanouella Verma