Joseph Josephides was born in 1966 in Cyprus. He studied Mathematics (B.Sc.), Economics (B.A.) 
and statistical Economics (Ph.D.). Bank Manager for 23 years. He is Member of the Boards 
of “Union of Writers of Cyprus and represented Cyprus Poetry in two european Conferences 
(France 2003, Germany 2006). He wrote three  collections of Poems “Way A’” (2001), “Way B” (2002), 
“Way C” (2006), one theatre play (2005), one Book with his translations of Neruda’s poems (2006), 
and one Book with translations of Chinese Medieval Poets (2006). His poetry is a journey of Odysseas 
to reach Ithaka of Values, Roots and Love.

A great number of his poems have been translated in many languages, some have been musically 
composed, and includes in European Anthologies.    


 

MEDITATING  ON  OLYMPIA


  “Alas ! In vain! My whole life in ruins”,
   Rodin cried out, awe struck
   When he first saw Apollo at Olympia.

   And frantically he searched with his hands
   The bottom of his pouch
   Trying to find out
   Whether the fault lied with a tool.
   Was it a tool that he had laid aside?
   A tool longing for the affection of his fingers?

   Hardly breathing he dashed 
   to the workshop of Phidias
		
   He searched everywhere – deep in his thoughts –
   For any little humble thing 
   Which might have helped,
   He dug, in agitation, his fingers into the soil.

   Might he happen to discover, by chance,                 
   Anyone of the tools of Hephaestus,
   He was never aware of ?	
		
   Might he find a tool of Gods
   That Olympia hides ?

   A tool that stirs, 
   And elates the soul,
   And liberates it.



NATURE ADVICE


On a pole across your neck
Carrying two chinese water-pots
Praising the perfect one on the right
For its accomplishment, as you believe,
Why you blame the cracked one on the left?
        
Give the weak a chance, Nature advises! 
It cannot contain the whole water, but
Garden expands everywhere: just plant seeds
On the left side of the path you walk.
See backwards: the cracked pot waters 
A long line of flowers, drop after drop.
The poor pot offers you a rewarding grace.
So, pick up those flowers for decorations 
Enjoy their fragrance; accept inequality
Since the weak ones are blessed by Nature.

As for my weakness: Take me for what I am  
And better look for what is good in me.