Wednesday 27 May 2015 11:05AM
Image: (© Getty Images / Greg Burke)

Against the backdrop of Greece’s rich history of language and ideas, there’s been a great modern tradition of writing from across the Greek diaspora. This was especially so amongst the first generation of Greek migrants who took their birthright of poetry and prose with them to new lands, and especially to Australia. They used words to articulate their connectedness and their remoteness. There was a certain melancholy assurance of who they were and where they’d come from.

But for the second generation there is none of that visceral sense of belonging. Memories are received, culture is inherited, but all of it is second-hand.

Southern Sun, Aegean Light is a diverse collection of poems from second generation Greek-Australians. They are full of the poignancy of longing for an identity and a sense of place, but the range of works shows that the term ‘Greek-Australian’ fails to describe the disparate nature of the second generation experience.

Supporting Information

List of poems:
The Sea Urchin
 by Efi Hatzimanolis
Inheritance
 by Nick Trakakis
Prayer At Midnight 
by Nicholas Kyriacos
Widows Of The Sun 
by Chrisoula Simos
The Bird In The Belltower
 by Peter Lyssiotis
32 Davis St, East Burwood
 by Peter Lyssiotis
Peloponnese Sunset 
by Angela Costi
The Man Who Knew To Smile 
by Nicholas Kyriacos
I Hate, Hate
 by Luka Haralampou
Sparing Lives
 by Phillip Constan
Pencil
 by Tom Petsinis
Mind
 by Salome Argyropoulos
The Lucky Country
 by George Athanasiou

Relevant link: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/southern-sun-aegean-light/6148500

Listen to the program here: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programitem/pgzEGJY0P7?play=true