When the Battle of Crete becomes poetry and visual art

«Στο Φεγγαρόλουστο Χωριό – Η Μάχη της Κρήτης» / ‘Into the Moonlight Village – The Battle of Crete’. This is the title of the bilingual in Greek and English collaboration of poetry and art. The painter is Michael Winters and the poet is Politimi Tataraki. Ms Tataraki talks to SBS Greek

Greek-Australian Politimi Tataraki in her birthplace Rethymno, with the harbour in the background.

Poems and drawings about the resilience of the Cretan people and the fighting spirit of the ANZACS that fought the German Nazis in May and in June of 1941.

The book will be officially presented and launched in Melbourne this coming Sunday 9^th of June at the Greek Centre and the event is a collaboration between the Greek Community of Melbourne, the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, and the Greek Australian Cultural League.

Ms Tataraki told SBS Greek about her family connection with the Battle of Crete and the ANZACs’ campaign in Greece in 1941.

The poems were written several years ago and there were influenced by 15 linocuts by artist and painter Michael Winters made in 2004.

The cover of the bilingual publication «Στο Φεγγαρόλουστο Χωριό – Η Μάχη της Κρήτης» / ‘Into the Moonlight Village – The Battle of Crete’ by Australian painter Michael Winters and Greek-Australian poet Politimi Tataraki translated in Greek by Petros Fournaris.

Ms Tataraki says that the Battle of Crete was not in the Australian history schoolbooks while she was growing up.

She believes more can be done so that the younger generation in Australia and in Greece can learn more about the Battle of Crete and the role of the ANZACs and the people of the Crete resistance movement which started in May 1941.

Ms Tataraki recites a selected poem for SBS Greek.

“It alludes to April 28, 1941, when HMS Havock evacuated around 800 troops from Rafina, east of Athens, to sail to Crete.

“This was the same day that the Nazi flag was hoisted on top of Acropolis Hill.

Poet Politimi Tataraki, painter Michael Winters.

Daedalus Wept

“A swastika

Taunts the Parthenon

The night the Havock

Sails for Crete

Arriving in springtime

To see strange buds

Blossoming from Junkers

Alas poor boys

For Malemé –

It was a long walk

Down the gangway

For such a short-lived stay

And Daedalus wept

To see such cruel ingenuity”

The translations into Greek were done by Petros Fournaris from Leros, Dodecanese.

L: Artwork by Australian painter Michael Winters. R: Greek-Australian poet Politimi Tataraki.

Details about the upcoming event

The ‘Into the Moonlit Village - The Battle of Crete’, a collaborative bilingual book by poet Poli Tataraki Sansey and artist Michael Winters will be presented on Sunday, the 9^th of June 2024 at 2:30 pm at the Greek Community Centre of Melbourne (168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne).

The introduction will be handed by eminent poet Dean Kalymnios.

Both poet and artist will speak about their work and the participants will hear selected poems and view projections of linocuts.

According to the organisers of the event, the guests “will experience Cretans and Anzacs grappling side by side on Crete with the Nazi invasion.

“Transplanted into an ancient land Australian soldiers seem to be coming of age under the gaze of the Bull, experiencing the horrors of war while also encountering the legendary hospitality of Cretans prepared to give their lives for freedom.

“This presentation will touch your mind and your heart.

“Books will be on sale at the venue.

“The presentation will conclude with some live Cretan music.”