“Ginger Scent” by Maria Voulgari quickly became a global sensation, selling out within three months of its release. The book earned prestigious recognition, winning the Award of Excellence in Writing and the Award of Best Poetry Compilation at the International Awards 2023 in the category of “Love Poetry.” Additionally, it has been officially registered and listed in the UNESCO World Electronic Library, marking its place in the world’s literary heritage.
(From the presentation on the back cover of the book)
Greek
Έχω ανάψει όλα τα φώτα
για να ζεστάνω μια παρένθεση.
Έχω σκορπίσει όλα τα όνειρα
για να δεσμεύσω μια εικόνα.
Περπατώ στη νύχτα
κι ανταμώνω
όλα μου τα ερωτηματικά.
Ποτέ δεν κατάλαβα
γιατί τα κορμιά
συλλαβίζουν όλα τα αναπάντητα
με τον ίδιο ήχο.
Ποτέ δεν κατάλαβα
γιατί τα χαράματα
ακουμπάνε με δεκανίκια
στα ίδια χρώματα.
Ψιθύρισα στη νοσταλγία
όλες τις συλλαβές της επιμονής.
Κι εκείνη διάλεξε τη φωτιά.
English
I have turned all the lights on
to warm up a parenthesis.
I have scattered all my dreams
to capture an image.
I walk through the night
and I encounter
all my question marks.
I never understood
why the bodies
whisper all the unanswered
with the same sound.
I never understood
why the dawn
leans on crutches
on the same colors.
I whispered to nostalgia
all the syllables of persistence.
And she chose the fire.
Maria Voulgari’s book “Ginger Scent” is a work that transcends the limits of traditional poetry, inviting readers on a sensorial journey where music and writing intertwine in a unique way. The author, throughout her verses, explores the concept of synesthesia, the ability to perceive through multiple senses simultaneously, creating a bridge between music and the written word.
The title of the work, which refers to a specific fragrance, is a metaphor for what the author seeks to evoke: moments and feelings that can be captured through aromas, sounds and words. The “Ginger Scent”, with its intensity and warmth, emerges as a symbol of emotions that are often difficult to name, but which come to life through poetry.
One of the poems of Voulgari’s book:
Greek
Αγκαλιά με το ασυνήθιστο
Μέσα σε μια πλάνη
θα στριμώξω τον ταξιδιάρικο εαυτό μου.
Να ακροβατεί αγκαλιά με το ασυνήθιστο
κι απ’ τους λυγμούς του να ξαναγεννιέται.
Να πολλαπλασιάζεται.
Κι εκείνο το φιλί…
δοξάρι στα ματωμένα μου χείλη…
Μαστίγιο και ζεστασιά στις ουλές μου.
Κυριακή ο χρόνος.
Αίνιγμα η ζωή που πάντα με θυμάται.
English
In an Embrace with the Unusual
In a delusion,
I will squeeze my wandering self.
To walk a tightrope in an embrace with the unusual,
and from its sobs, to be reborn.
To multiply.
And that kiss…
a bow on my bloodied lips…
Whip and warmth on my scars.
Time is Sunday.
Life, a riddle that always remembers me.
Voulgari uses musicality in her verses in a unique way. Words, more than just literary elements, become notes of a melody that permeate the reading and cause a visceral sensation in the reader. The author uses a cadence that resembles the rhythm of a song, making the reading not only intellectual, but also emotional, providing an experience that goes beyond simply understanding the words.
The book invites the reader to reflect on the connection between different art forms, such as music and poetry, and how they can combine to create a deeper, more sensorial experience.
It is worth knowing and following Maria Voulgari on her social networks at:
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/voulgari_maria_
Official Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/mariavoulgari.singersongwriter/
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@mariavfreespirit
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/artist/34U06M1rLm58Lu75Je4WUb
