Poets, writers, representatives from publishing houses, and people from the arts including musicians and dancers marched from the National Library to Syntagma square in Athens on Wednesday in an anti-austerity protest spreading hope to passers-by with verses of major Greek poets. Instead of the usual slogans against cuts on salaries and tax hikes imposed by the government, artists raised banners with verses of Odysseas Elytis such as "Make a leap faster than decay" or "If you can' t find spring, make it." Passers-by were also given copies of verses by poetry masters such as Dionysios Solomos (the author of the Greek national anthem) and students from the Greek National School of Dance performed short theatre plays. The overall aim of the march was to show people that they can overcome disappointment and anger and find hope to tackle current difficulties by paying homage to Greece's rich cultural heritage.
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March 22, 2012
Poetry Day Marked With Unique Anti-Austerity Protest
Poets, writers, representatives from publishing houses, and people from the arts including musicians and dancers marched from the National Library to Syntagma square in Athens on Wednesday in an anti-austerity protest spreading hope to passers-by with verses of major Greek poets. Instead of the usual slogans against cuts on salaries and tax hikes imposed by the government, artists raised banners with verses of Odysseas Elytis such as "Make a leap faster than decay" or "If you can' t find spring, make it." Passers-by were also given copies of verses by poetry masters such as Dionysios Solomos (the author of the Greek national anthem) and students from the Greek National School of Dance performed short theatre plays. The overall aim of the march was to show people that they can overcome disappointment and anger and find hope to tackle current difficulties by paying homage to Greece's rich cultural heritage.