Alexandros Panagoulis

Alexandros Panagoulis (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Παναγούλης) (2 July 1939 – 1 May 1976) was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece. He was the partner of Oriana Fallaci.

Alexandros Panagoulis in 1973

Quotes

Poetry

Vi scrivo da un carcere in Grecia (I write you from a prison in Greece) (1974)

• The teardrops which you will see
  flowing from our eyes
  you should never believe
  signs of despair.
  They are only promise
  promise for Fight.
  • Promise, written in Military Prisons of Bogiati February 1972.

• A match as a pen
  Blood on the floor as ink
  The forgotten gauze cover as paper
  But what should I write?
  I might just manage my address.
  This ink is strange; it clots.
  I write you from a prison
  in Greece.
  • My Address, written in Military Prisons of Bogiati, 5 June 1971 – After beating.

• I gave life to the walls
  a voice I gave them
  more friendly so that would become my company
  and the guards asked
  to know where they could find the paint.

  The walls of the cell
  kept the secret
  and the mercenaries searched everywhere
  but paint they could not find.

  Because they did not think for one moment
  that they should search into my veins.

  • I Bogia (The Paint).