I lived from 1896-1928. I was from Greece, and am in the European category.
Kostas Karyotakis (Greek: Κώστας Καρυωτάκης (October 30, 1896 – July 20, 1928) was one of the greatest Greek poets of the 20th century and the first to incorporate modernist themes in his poetry, which was influenced by expressionism and symbolism, although his poetry has a satiric edge that is unique. Linguistically, Karyotakis' poetry belongs to the New School of Athenian poetry, founded in about 1880 by Kostis Palamas, which revolted against Katharevusa, the stilted and archaic official language of Greece. Karyotakis' contemporaries, for the most part, did not recognize his genius or value his poetry; after his suicide, however, many did belatedly come to that realization. His greatest influence, however, was to be on later generations of Greek poets.
Born in Tripoli, Greece, his father's occupation as a county engineer resulted in Karyotakis' changing homes frequently in his youth. During his childhood he lived in many locations in Greece, including Argostoli, Lefkada, Larisa, Kalamata, Athens and Chania.
He started publishing poetry in various children's magazines in 1912. After receiving his degree from the Law School of Athens, he became a clerk in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. However, he greatly disliked his work and could not tolerate the bureaucracy of the state, which he wrote about often in his poems. His prose piece Catharsis ('purification') is characteristic of his disdain. For this reason he would often be removed from his posts and transferred to other locations in Greece. During these relocations he became familiar with the boredom and misery of the country during those unpleasant World War I years.
In February 1919 he published his first collection of poetry: The Pain of Man and Things, which was largely ignored or badly reviewed by the critics. In the same year he published with his friend Agis Levendis a satirical magazine called "The Leg," which despite its success was banned by the police after the sixth issue.
In 1921 he published his second poetry collection entitled Nepenthe. At that time he began having an affair with the poet Maria Polydouri who was his colleague at the Prefecture of Attica. In 1924 he traveled abroad, visiting Italy and Germany. In December 1927 he published his last collection of poetry: Elegy and Satires.
In February 1928, Karyotakis was transferred to Patras and in June 1928 to Preveza. From there he sent desperate letters to friends and relatives describing the misery and isolation that he felt innured in those remote postings. His angst is palpable in the poem "Preveza" which he wrote shortly before his suicide. On July 20 he went to Monolithi and kept trying to drown himself in the sea for ten hours, but failed in his attempt. The following morning he returned home, left again to purchase a revolver and then went to a little café. After smoking for a few hours, he went to a nearby seashore called Agios Spyridon and there, under an eucalyptus, shot himself through the heart. His suicide letter was found in his pocket ("I pay now for all those who, like me, couldn't see any ideals in their life").
Born in Tripoli, Greece, his father's occupation as a county engineer resulted in Karyotakis' changing homes frequently in his youth. During his childhood he lived in many locations in Greece, including Argostoli, Lefkada, Larisa, Kalamata, Athens and Chania.
He started publishing poetry in various children's magazines in 1912. After receiving his degree from the Law School of Athens, he became a clerk in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. However, he greatly disliked his work and could not tolerate the bureaucracy of the state, which he wrote about often in his poems. His prose piece Catharsis ('purification') is characteristic of his disdain. For this reason he would often be removed from his posts and transferred to other locations in Greece. During these relocations he became familiar with the boredom and misery of the country during those unpleasant World War I years.
In February 1919 he published his first collection of poetry: The Pain of Man and Things, which was largely ignored or badly reviewed by the critics. In the same year he published with his friend Agis Levendis a satirical magazine called "The Leg," which despite its success was banned by the police after the sixth issue.
In 1921 he published his second poetry collection entitled Nepenthe. At that time he began having an affair with the poet Maria Polydouri who was his colleague at the Prefecture of Attica. In 1924 he traveled abroad, visiting Italy and Germany. In December 1927 he published his last collection of poetry: Elegy and Satires.
In February 1928, Karyotakis was transferred to Patras and in June 1928 to Preveza. From there he sent desperate letters to friends and relatives describing the misery and isolation that he felt innured in those remote postings. His angst is palpable in the poem "Preveza" which he wrote shortly before his suicide. On July 20 he went to Monolithi and kept trying to drown himself in the sea for ten hours, but failed in his attempt. The following morning he returned home, left again to purchase a revolver and then went to a little café. After smoking for a few hours, he went to a nearby seashore called Agios Spyridon and there, under an eucalyptus, shot himself through the heart. His suicide letter was found in his pocket ("I pay now for all those who, like me, couldn't see any ideals in their life").
Popular poetry
- Our death is needed by the boundless nature all around
and is craved by the purple mouths of flowers.18 lines - We are some disjointed guitars.
When the wind blows through20 lines - In the garden the chrysanthemums were dying
like desires when you came. Calmly7 lines - And so they go and die the same way they live.
I speak of lives given to the light70 lines
