INTERIM REPORT ON GROWING UP

Alexandros Chronides is a new poetic voice of Cyprus. In the back of his mind there reside the adventures of his beloved country; yet, he is trying to exit from psychological effects affecting the people around, either as a demanding observer or as a technocrat with a vision, beyond the limits imposed on him. Being an adult he feels that he has won and he has lost, either in a race or not. He manages to express himself despite «the moonstains he has got on his teeth and the sunstains on his fingers», despite any strange things that could embarrass him. It’s just innovative for a new poet, like Alexandros, to chat directly with his secret inner self, while outside its sunny and his insides for his inner self are rainy. He wants to have a private relationship with his inner self, to be loved by him, to let himself write poems for him, either read by others or not. Regarding his love for his girl, he confesses in a surprising fantastic way e.g. for the ever-first, ever-last, ever-never happening kiss to her. Still he desires to lit up a fire that will burn faster than anything, faster than time itself. He puts in his verses philosophical issues, like: what is more real, the smile of Mona Lisa, or himself showing a frown after hanging himself, or Bukowski’s constant Beauty of the fight. In the end Alexandros may say: God is sunshine, the promise of a happy end, a good song and also loving without reservations, a poem that echoes through eternity. There is a way out, up, forward and beneath, for a poet like Chronides, but there is no way back.