Nikos Gatsos  was a Greek poet, translator and lyricist.  He was born in 1911 in Asea in Arcadia, a district of the Peloponnese. In Athens he studied literature, philosophy, and history at the University of Athens. His knowledge of English and French was quite good. He published his poems, small in extent and in a classic style, in the magazines Nea Estia (1931–32) and Rythmos (1933). During that period he also published criticism in Makedonikes Imeres, Rythmos, and Nea Grammata .  In 1935 he lived in France, in Paris and the South of France.

In 1936 he met Odysseus Elytis, his "brother" in poetry. 

In 1943, Aetos published his long poem Amorgos, a major contribution to contemporary Greek poetry notable especially for its combination of surrealism with traditional Greek folk poetry motifs.

He subsequently published three more poems: "Elegeio" (1946) in Filologika Chronika, "The Knight and Death" (1947), and "Song of Old Times"  (1963).

After World War II, he worked with the Greek-British Review as a translator and with Ellinikí Radiofonía as a radio director. During that period he also began writing lyrics for the music of Manos Hadjidakis, opening a brilliant career in modern Greek songwriting. In due course he also collaborated with Mikis Theodorakis and other notable composers.  His work as a whole combines universal poetic themes such as the problems of evil, injustice, sacrifice, and the pains of love, with more specifically Greek concerns such as the sorrows of exile.  His capability to handle language with accuracy led the "Art Theatre", the "National Theatre" and the "Popular Theatre" of Greece to entrust him with translations of various plays -translations that became "legendary"- first and foremost being "Blood Wedding" by Federico Garcia Lorca.  He had a special relationship with Manos Hadjidakis and Nana Mouskouri. His British friends were Philip Sherrard, Peter Levi and Peter Jay, and his Irish friend, Desmond O'Grady.  He died in Athens on 12 May 1992. (Source: wikipedia)

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In the following video, students from E1 Class and their teacher, Matina Ntouskou, present his poem "Sirius"