Pi O

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Short description|Greek-Australian poet}}

П. O. (or Pi O, born 1951) is a Greek-Australian, working class, anarchist poet.{{cite web

| last = Evans

| first = Brad

| authorlink =

|author2=Pi O

| title = Pi O interviewed by Brad Evans

| publisher = Cordite Magazine

| year = 2000

| url = http://cordite.org.au/06-07/evans,pio.html

| archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20010620140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14234/20010621/cordite.org.au/06-07/evans,pio.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2001-06-20

| accessdate = 2007-10-22 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Born in Katerini, Greece, П. O. came to Australia with his family around 1954. After time in Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre, the family moved to the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy.

П. O. was inspired to start writing poetry in 1973 when he heard Johnny Cash reciting (religious) poetry while tuning his guitar. П. O. thought he could do as well or better. His work ranges from standup-type rants to 'conceptual' page poetry and concrete poetry, with a heavy emphasis on wordplay and capturing the vitality of everyday speech. Thematically, he commonly portrays the issues of non-Anglo-Celtic working class life.{{cite web

| last = Koval

| first = Ramona

| authorlink =Ramona Koval

|author2=Pi O

| title = Poetic anarchy: Pi O

| publisher = Radio National

| year = 2008

| url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2008/2254010.htm

| accessdate = 2009-01-14 }}

His first published book, Fitzroy Brothel, was released in 1974. From 1978 to 1983, he was involved in producing the radical poetry magazine 925. After the publication of several more collections, his 740-page epic poem 24hrs was published in 1996 by Collective Effort Press.

He is a fixture of Melbourne's performance poetry scene and has edited an anthology of performance poetry (Off the Record) for Penguin. He has been editor of the literary journal Unusual Work.

П. O. won the 2020 Judith Wright Calanthe Prize for Poetry for Heide at the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Book about rugby league takes out richest prize in Queensland Literary Awards|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-05/rugby-league-book-wins-queensland-premiers-literary-award/12629544|access-date=2020-09-05|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} He is a finalist for the 2021 Melbourne Prize for Literature.{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-09-15|title=Melbourne Prize for Literature finalists announced|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/09/15/193399/melbourne-prize-for-literature-finalists-announced-3/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Books+Publishing|language=en-AU}} In 2024 he won the Patrick White Literary Award.{{Cite web |last=Mem: 7557520 |title=Pi-O wins 2024 Patrick White Literary Award {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2024/10/25/260952/pi-o-wins-2024-patrick-white-literary-award/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |language=en-AU}}