Apologos

Apologos is a minimalist poetry collection by Zafko, first initiated in 2018 and completed during the final year of high school, one of the most demanding and defining periods of his early life. That year was marked by the pressure of graduation exams for university, the instability brought by the COVID-19 era, and a rigid and often problematic educational system that left little to no time for music or creative expression. These conditions led to a period of emotional weight, introspection, and isolation, which Zafko externalized through this book as a way to cope, much like he later does through music. The collection explores themes of identity, time, and the human experience through minimalist and deeply personal verse. The work draws strong inspiration from the naturalism of "Μ. Καραγάτσης", as perceived in his narrative "Τα χταποδάκια" from the collection "Το νερό της βροχής" and the broader poetic body of "Τίτος Πατρίκιος". The title Apologos derives from the Greek word «απόλογος», meaning reflection or reckoning, symbolizing the end as a beginning, Zafko’s first artistic closure that becomes the starting point of everything that follows. The book consists of 51 pages with black and white illustrations, 16 cm format, categorized as poetry with DDC 889.19 Greek edition, and published with ISBN 9786180046533.