Greek Australian anarchist poet Π.O. (Pi.O.) has won the $20,000 Patrick White Literary Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Australian literature.

Π.O. grew up in Fitzroy after his parents moved to Australia from Greece in the 1950s.

Π.O.’s poetry is often written in a phonetic vernacular, which can appear challenging on the page, but which springs to life when read aloud.

In a statement to Artshub, Π.O. couldn’t contain his excitement at the recognition.

“I’ve only won one award before this so it was gobsmacking to receive the accolade,” he said.

Π.O.’s Heide collection won the 2020 Judith Wright Calanthe Prize in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and was shortlisted in the 2020 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

He is already in the process of writing a fourth epic poem, this time about the gentrification of Fitzroy and inner city Melbourne.

Source: Greekherald.com.au