Literature corner 📚

 POEMS...

THE WINNING STORY OF THE COMPETITION

A CHRISTMAS STORY

By Βαλεντίνη Σισμανίδου

It was a cold, quiet night. Delicate snowflakes made their way down, blanketing the ground in

white. The distant sound of bells rang through the atmosphere. Kelly peeped an eye open,

making sure all of her four siblings were still in slumber. She got out of bed, sounds of

shuffling coming from her living room as she tiptoed down the stairs.

There, in front of her living room's unlit fireplace, stood a large and round figure, adorned in

vivid red, a sack draped across a shoulder. As they laid the sack on the ground, turning to the

cookies and milk she and her siblings had left, Kelly covered her mouth to humble her gasp of

awe as the large figure revealed to be Santa himself! Santa looked up, suspiciously looking

around. Kelly hid herself amongst the railings of her staircase. Santa dropped the search,

taking a bite of the chocolate chip cookies, then smiling in delight, crediting her mother's

irresistible cooking skills.

As he finished the plate of cookies, he began to lay presents under her beautifully decorated

Christmas tree. Standing up to take his leave, he crawled back up the chimney. Kelly ran to

her present, unwrapping it with anticipation. As she opened the lid of the box, her cheeky

smile turned into a frown—coal in the place of where her Barbie doll should have been. A soft

chuckle was heard from behind her. Kelly yelped, turning around to find Santa standing

behind her, a warm smile spread across his features.

''Tell me, Kelly, why are you up so late on this magical night;'' Kelly looked down, shame

dusted across her brightly pink cheeks.''I wanted to see the true magic of Christmas.'' Santa

ran his fingers across his long white beard. ''The true magic of Christmas is the kindness and

love we share'', he stated. Kelly smiled. Santa patted her shoulder. ''Now, why don't you head

back to bed?''.She nodded, softly running up the staircase up to her bedroom. As she got

under the covers of her warm bed, she nuzzled into her pillows, letting sleep take over her.

Kelly awoke to the sound of her younger siblings making a ruckus, all of them running down

the stairs with her trailing after. As they all quickly unwrapped their presents, Kelly noticed a

new gift under the tree bearing her name. Hesitant but hopeful, she walked up to it, gently

unwrapping it to find her dream Barbie doll under the wrappings. She smiled, quietly thanking

Santa for the night that she had never forget.

THE SECOND WINNING STORY OF THE COMPETITION

By Ελευθερία Κολοβού

“Why?”

“Huh? Where am I?” A woman with white fair skin and purple hair which

compliments her light pink eyes and most of all, a small round bump.

“What happened, and why is it so cold?” she wondered as she started

trembling lightly. The apparently disabled woman tried to reach the

ground by leaning forward, feeling the cold snow on her fingertips.

“Judging by the smell, I’m near a big trash bin but where exactly, is the

problem. Sometimes, I really wish I could see again or at least walk;

everything would have been so much easier.” The hustle and bustle of

the city could be heard from behind her, making her come to the

conclusion that she is in an alleyway.

“But how did I…” she trailed off, already knowing the answer deep

down in her heart. “Ugh, why am I even asking? I already know the

answer, and on Christmas Eve, no less. Truly, I should have seen this

coming from a mile away long ago.” she thought, shaking her head from

side to side. “In the end I trusted the wrong person it seems, and not

only that, I had to leave everything behind for that stupid selfish man,

my family, my friends, my home and most of all myself. I can’t believe I

left behind my past self for a man who would, in the very end, leave me

to starve on the streets,” she whispered as she started crying and

hugging herself, trying in some way to comfort herself the way she’s

been doing these past four years. “Why, why did this have to happen at

me? Why did I fall in love with the wrong person? Why? Why are people

so cruel? Why?” …

A few days later a man could be seen crossing the street, towards the

handicapped woman who was as still as a statue and still in the very

same alleyway. The man was around 1, 78 m. tall with black hair and

honey brown eyes, a pretty much, basic look. He finally arrived behind

her and lightly shook her right shoulder but when he did not get any

type of response he started whispering apologizing for the way he

treated her and for abandoning her out here in the freezing cold. “Look

honey, I’m sorry, I wasn’t myself back then. I was drunk and angry about

my job.” Despite his apology he got no answer. “Please look at me, I

really didn’t mean to throw you out, I wasn’t in my right state of mind.”

Once again, he got no answer. “If you’re worried about that time I

cheated on you with my co-worker, then you won’t have to worry about

that because I stopped, so please I beg you, talk to me.” He whispered

the last part holding back tears and the arm that was still on her

shoulder started trembling. “Please.” He was at the verge of tears at this

point barely holding them back. “Honey? Please, talk to me, I swear I’ve

changed, so give me another chance. Honey?” He shook both her

shoulders this time. ‘No, wait, something feels wrong, very wrong.” he

thought as he started walking around the wheelchair and stopped in

front of her, only to come face to face with her beautiful eyes, now

closed. “Honey, are you asleep? Please answer me.” he said, as he was

reaching out his hand to her throat, to feel her pulse, and when he did,

his eyes widened and his tears started pouring down his cheeks. “Why?

Why was I so stupid, to leave you out here all alone? I’m a monster! How

could I ever do that to a kind angel like you, you didn’t deserve that, I

didn’t deserve you.” He shouted as he fell on his knees, his tears kept

falling on the snow and finally, from that angle, he was able to notice

that small bump that escaped his vision all this time. “Why? Why did I do

that? Why?...

Childrens rights

In a world where dreams take flight,

Children' s rights, a beacon bright.

Tiny hands that grasp the sun,

A chorus of voices, each and every one.

In laughter ,dance and playful song,

Their rights echo, bold and strong.

To learn, to play, to simply be,

A world where every child is free.

No shadows cast upon their joy,

Equality for every girl and boy.

In innocence, a treasure found,

Rights woven in a tapestry profound.

Let kindness guide the grown-ups hand,

To nurture dreams, to understand.

For every child, a promise sealed,

In a world where compassion is revealed.

By Valentini Sismanidou

  WINNING POEMS FROM POETRY DAY

DEATH

Don’t be happy with the party

Cause the party is so wild

All these people are so happy

Till the end they drive me mad

Happiness and blur are all they want

Till their DEATH, is all they see!

By Georgia Konstantinidou and Eliza Antoniou

SPRING

The days grow longer and the weather becomes milder

As winter fades, the springtime is near.

The snow recedes and the grass grows green

As the world comes to life again

By Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos, Vaggelis Tsiolis

and Thomas Mirkopoulos

SPRING

Wake up, it’s spring

And you have to fly with your wings

Pink flowers, blue sky

Go out and say Hi!

Happy people, good mood

You can eat good food

The sun is shining and the animals are wild

Everyone has a good time

Time flies and we rise

And we have to give spring vibes

Watching the sunset and say Wow!

It’s time to live it right now.

Everyone with our voices say

We love Spring

And it helps us be OK!

By Fani Traikou

An “accident” they said

It was about to be the first of March

The first day of spring

That would remind you of love and fun.

It was the beginning of the end.

People took the train

And wanted to come back

To see their loved ones that they had missed so much.

Due to a mistake as they said

Many souls went through hell

It was about to be the first of March

But it did not feel like Spring to me that much…

By Marita Papadopoulou, Anna Sintoudi,

Thetis Pylarinou, Elpis Tsakiri

This poem is about finding strength in the impermanence of difficulties and embracing the different , changed self , analogous with the writer that passes on eventually and makes way for spring 🌻...

Once you can't see the horizon

When nature paints its brown canvas white

Once the leaves go to rest

And the animals hide in their cozy nest

A time of celebration, fast approaching

To usher in the new and the unknown

The bells mark our rebirth

The flowers that sleep will see this winter through

For it doesn't last forever

And in the end, petals will shine true

The nights are long beneath the snowfall

But sit for a while, next to a fire

And before long, day will welcome you

Just like before.

Ραφαέλα Παπακωνσταντίνου