The Celebrated Poet And Musician Dimitris Tsaloumas.

Welcome to the website honouring Dimitris Tsaloumas.

Born Leros, Greece, October 13th, 1921. Died Leros, February 3rd, 2016.

A Dream Of Summer

The path from the old house

cuts through a summer day

down the hill

                     face indistinct

turned to the sun

like the sun's own flower

her step a dragonfly's

on a still pond

I peer through semidarkness

I peer hard

time erosion maybe

youth's thoughtless pledge

suddenly alert

I demand precision

texture and touch of flesh

shivers course down my spine

it judders rippling air

unsettling the pale flame

of the lamp

Welcome to the website honouring the creativity of Dimitris Tsaloumas, poet, musician and mentor.

The literary works of Dimitris Tsaloumas are copyrighted and guarded by his Estate Trustees. For all enquiries regarding permissions, corrections/exclusions, additions and insights, please contact: dimitristsaloumastrustees@outlook.com

Obituaries. Leros and the long journey back: a gifted and fortunate life.

D.T's comment upon concluding what he thought was to be his last concerted literary effort, Helen of Troy and Other Poems. (University of Queensland Press, 2007).

• The Age Public Guestbook. Contributions from Helen Nickas, Michael Winters, Laurie Muller, Poli Sansey and Mike Ladd.
• When the poetry 'voice from outside' came indoors, Judith Rodriguez and Helen Nickas.
• Dimitris Tsaloumas And The Music Of The Unseen, Vrasidis Karalis.
• A fond farewell for Australian Greek poet Dimitris Tsaloumas, Jason Steger, The Sydney Morning Herald.
• The Australia Book Council pays tribute.

Ongoing recognition and new projects.

• On Sunday April, 24th, 2016 a Literary Afternoon was held in remembrance of the 'distiguished poet Dimitris Tsaloumas' by The Greek Community of Melbourne. The event was jointly organised by several supporters: Greek-Australian Cultural League of Melbourne, Greek Community of Melbourne, Hellenic Museum, Hellenic Writers Association of Australia, International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis-Melbourne Branch, Modern Greek Studies Program La Trobe University and Owl Publishing.

  The inaugural 'Dimitris Tsaloumas Commemorative Lecture' heard from several speakers and can be watched on You Tube.

  The Greek Community of Melbourne continues to honour the poet with its annual 'Dimitris Tsaloumas Memorial Lecture'.

• Untapped :The Australian Literary Heritage Project.

Untapped, Melbourne University's exciting venture, seeks to bring books fallen out of print back to life through digital means. The Observatory, Dimitri's compilation of Greek poems alongside Philip Grundy's English translations, was included in this wonderful project. Untapped's resurrected titles, published by Ligature Pty Ltd, can be purchased through Booktopia.

• SBS Greek Podcast series "Ποίηση στους Αντίποδες" airing 2024.

• Un chant du soir. French translations by Pascal Laurent, Orphee Publishing, 2014.
• To Κοράλλι. Dedication edited by fellow Leriot, Petros Fournaris. Upcoming May issue, 2024.

• English-written collections by title.
• Falcon Drinking (University of Queensland Press, 1988).
• Portrait of a Dog (University of Queensland Press, 1991).
• The Barge (University of Queensland Press, 1993).
• The Harbour (University of Queensland Press, 1998).
• Six Improvisations On The River (Nottingham: Shoestring Press, 1996).
• Stoneland Harvest: New & Selected Poems (Nottingham: Shoestring Press, 1999, 2004).
• Dimitris Tsaloumas: New & Selected Poems (University of Queensland Press, 2000).
• Helen of Troy and Other Poems (University of Queensland Press, 2007).


• Greek-written collections by title.
• Επιστολή στον ταξιδεμένο φίλο (Ρόδος, 1949).
• Τρόποι γαλήνης (Ίκαρος, Αθήνα, 1950).
• Ανάσταση 1967 (Αρίων, Μελβούρνη, Αυστραλία, 1974).
• Παρατηρήσεις υποχονδριακού (Αθήνα, 1974).
• Το σπίτι με τους ευκάλυπτους (ΑΚΕ, 1975).
• Ο άρρωστος μπαρμπέρης και άλλα πρόσωπα (Ίκαρος, Αθήνα, 1979).
• Το σπίτι με τους ευκάλυπτους, 2nd edition (Θεσσαλονίκη: Νέα Πορεία, 1980).
• Ο γιος του κυρ-Σακή (Αθήνα, 1979).
• Το βιβλίο των επιγραμμάτων (Θεσσαλονίκη: Νέα Πορεία, 1981; 2nd ed. 1982).
• Το ταξίδι (2 volumes, Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Σοκόλη & Melbourne: Owl Publishing, 1995).
• Δίφορος καρπός (Melbourne: Owl Publishing, 2001).
• Δίψα (Πλανόδιον, Αθήνα, 2010).


• Bilingual collections by title.
• The Observatory, translated by Philip Grundy (University of Queensland Press, 1983, 1984, 1991).
• The Book of Epigrams, translated by Philip Grundy (University of Queensland Press, 1985).
• A Winter Journey, translated by D. Tsaloumas (Owl Publishing, 2014).
• Un chant du soir, translations by P. Laurent (Orphee Publishing, 2014).


• Anthologies.
• Σύγχρονη αυστραλιανή ποίηση, ed. & trans. by Dimitris Tsaloumas (Thessaloniki: Νέα Πορεία, 1986).
• Contemporary Australian Verse, selected & trans. by Dimitris Tsaloumas (University of Queensland Press, 1986).

Honours bestowed Upon Dimitris Tsaloumas.
• Writer In Residence, Oxford University, 1989.
• Writer In Residence, La Trobe University, 1987 and 1989.
• National Book Council Award, 1993.
• Patrick White Award, 1994.
• Greek Festival of Sydney's recognition for outstanding contribution to Greek-Australian Poetry, 1995.
• Honorary Award, Kos Municipality, 1999.
• Honorary Award, Leros Municipality and Cultural Society of Leros, 1999.
• Emiritus Award from Australia Council Literature Board for life-long service to Australian Literature, 2001.
• Christopher Brennon Award for an Australian poet's work of "sustained quality and distinction", 2002.
• Agelidis Foundation's award for outstanding contributions to Greek, Australian and world literature, 2007.
• Appointment to Honorary Associate, La Trobe University Greek Studies Program, 2008.
• Appointment to Honorary Associate, La Trobe University Greek Studies Program, 2008.
• Honorary Award, Panhellenic Union of Lerians "Panayia of the Castle", 2011.
• Honorary Award, Dodecanesian Historic and Folkloric Society, Panhellenic Lerians "Panayia of the Castle" and the Cultural Society of Kos "Filitas", 2014.




Digitally Archived Magazine Articles Referencing Dimitris Tsaloumas.

• Αντίποδες/Antipodes, The Literary Periodical of the Greek-Australian Cultural league of Melbourne. In particular, issues no. 19, 1985, no. 22, 1987, no. 48, 2002 and no. 62, 2016, Dedication.

• Australian Literature, University of Queensland. Archived publications, Australia and abroad, comprising 414 of Dimitris Tsaloumas' works, 117 works about his works and 89 works about him.

• Australian Literary Studies, Scholarly Journal founded 1963. Archived publications, Australia and abroad, comprising 27 references to Dimitris Tsaloumas.

• Australian Poetry Review. Martin Duwell reviews Dimitris Tsaloumas: Helen of Troy, 2007.

• Informit, Digital Library. Archived publications, Australia and abroad, comprising 42 references to Dimitris Tsaloumas.

• JSTOR, Digital Library. Archived publications, Australia and abroad, comprising 92 references to Dimitris Tsaloumas.

• Meanjin. Poems published in Spring 1976, Spring 1981, Autumn 1983, Summer 1986, Summer 1987, Spring 1990, Summer 1990 and Summer 1992. (Archives currently undergoing digitisation.)

• Metre (Ireland). Australian Feature, Issue 2, 1997.

• Νέα Εστία. Poems and biographical notes, Issues 1553 (1992) and 1633 (1995).

• Νέα Πορεία. Poems and biographical notes across 9 issues, 1978-1990.

• WorldCat. 168 references including archived audiobooks, interviews and more.

  Magazines, journals, periodicals and newspaper articles referencing Dimitris Tsaloumas' works.

Ακτή (Greece), Αντίποδες (Aust.), Antipodes (USA), Australian Book Review, Australian Poetry Review, Australian Public Affairs, Bonniers Litterara Magazin (Sweden), Cimarron Review (USA), CrossCountry (Canada), Critical Survey (UK), Dis-locations, Eureka Street (UK), EXU (Brazil), Island, LiNQ, Literary Half-Yearly (India), Mattoid, Meanjin, Meridian, Mozaic, Νέα Εστία, (Greece), Νέα Πορεία (Greece), Nisides (Greece), Outrider, Overland, Παρουσία (Greece), P N Review, Quadrant, Reflections, Scan: The Journal for Educators, Scripsi, Southerly, The Age, The Canberra Times, The Pheonix Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Weekend Australian, Westerly, 6/7 (Greece).


Earlier publications in magazines, periodicals, journals, and newspaper reviews held in hard copy by Dimitris Tsaloumas' Estate.

• Song of the Just. Appearing in The Centennial Review, Michigan State University, Vol. XXXVII No. 2, 1993.
• In the Mirror of Candles, Aubade for the Lady of Ships, Observations in the Haiku Manner and The Rider. Appearing in Cimarron Review, Oklahoma State University, No. 120, July 1997.
• Ballad. Appearing in Eureka Street, Vol. 6, No. 6, July 1996.
• Prodigal II. Appearing in Eureka Street, Vol. 1, No. 1, March 1991.
• Old Mans Last Pilgrimmage. Appearing in Eureka Street, Vol. 14, No. 3, April 2004.
• Tsaloumas: Um Grego da Diaspora. Um Crente Nao Ortodoxo Tem o Seu Requerimento Indeferido, Velho Amigo, A Espera da Guerra e Carta De Um General Romano. Background story and 4 translations by Jose Paulo Paes. EXU, Issue 31/32, March-April 1993.
• Pråmen, Konflikt. Översättning Sun Axelsson. Bonniers Litterara Magazin, Vol. 4, 1996.
• Interview, featured writer. Mattoid, double issue 11 and 12, Deakin University, 1981.
• The House On Mooloolabah Beach. Appearing in LiNQ, Vol. 14, No. 3, 1996.
• Interview. 24 HOURS, ABC, No. 366, April 2003.
• Evening Walk, A Farewell,Love Sky, O By The River Tall, A Birth of Memory. Appearing in The Southeastern Review, Athens, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1990.
• Western: The Horseman, Some Questions, The Hunt. Appearing in Antipodes, The Publication of the American Assoc. of Australian Literary Studies, Nov. 1987.
• Review. Poetry Review, Vol. 76, No. 1/2, 1986.
• Αφιέρωμα/dedication, ΤΟ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΡΙΟ, ΣΤΟΝ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΗ, ΤΟ ΤΑΞΙΔΙ, ΑΠΟΡΡΙΨΙΣ ΑΙΤΗΣΕΩΣ ΑΝΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΥ ΠΙΣΤΟΥ, Η ΙΕΡΑ ΕΞΕΤΑΣΙΣ.6/7,τεύχος 6, Οκτώβριος 2006, Ρόδος.
• Poetry showcase. Ακτή, περιοδικό Λογοτεχνίας Και Κριτικής, τεύχος 33, χειμώνας 1997, Αθήνα.
• Του καβαλάρη φρόντισα, Λάζαρος, Αναβολή, Το Ψυχικό, Το Ψυγείο, Τσιγγάνικο, Εκλογές, Αγανάχτηση Προοδευτικού, Πολιτικός Συναγερμός, Λαοσύναξη, Τραγούδι της Αυγής για την Κυρά των Καραβιών. Παρουσία, Επιθεώρηση Λόγου και Τέχνης, Οκτώβριος-Δεκέμβριος 2009, Αθήνα.
• Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, ΣΤΟΝ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΣΤΗ, ΛΑΖΑΡΟΣ, ΑΓΑΝΑΧΤΗΣΗ ΠΡΟΟΔΕΥΤΙΚΟΥ, ΤΟΥ ΚΑΒΑΛΑΡΗ ΦΡΟΝΤΙΣΑ, Η ΠΑΝΟΠΛΙΑ, ΟΙ ΓΕΡΑΝΟΙ, ΤΟ ΨΥΧΙΚΟ, ΤΣΙΓΓΑΝΙΚΟ, Η ΩΡΑΙΑ ΚΑΙ Ο ΠΟΙΗΤΗΣ Β, Η ΕΠΙΔΟΚΙΜΑΣΙΑ, ΕΚΠΛΗΡΩΣΗ, ΠΑΝΣΕΛΗΝΟΣ.Νέα Εστία, τεύχος 1553 1992, Αθήνα.
• Jose Paulo Paes (Brazil). 6 ποιήματα. Μεταφρ. Δ. ΤΣΑΛΟΥΜΑΣ. Νέα Εστία, τεύχος 1633 1995, Αθήνα.