Poetry
Poetry
The role and function of Macedonian poetry in Canada represents the most direct way of expressing the spirit of the old world surrounded by the conditions faced in the new world. This genesis began over 100 years ago as the first Macedonians began migrating to Canada. The historical circumstances developed a truly Canadian Macedonian poetic narrative which the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society presents to you the reader. The selected poems are just a sample of some of the works of Canadian citizens of Macedonian descent.
Spero Thompson is a colleague and contributing writer of the Brachi Miladinovci Macedonian Poetry and Literary Society of Saint Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario.
Patsy Sider-Aspassia Bossota is the author of five poetry books entitled "Diary of a Soul (1998)", "A Spark from the Ashes (1998)", "Between Two Worlds (2000)", "The Joy of Justice (2003)", "Prohibited Culture (2006)", a book of Short Stories entitled "Amazing Garden"(2009) and author of many other poems and short stories. Poems from "Between Two Worlds" are presented for your reading.
They are following in the footsteps of the first representatives of modern Macedonian literature at the beginning of the 19th century. These include, Joakim Krcovski, Kiril Pejcinovik, Dimitar and Konstantin Miladinov, Grigor Prlicev, and Rajko Zinzifov. It was further developed in the 20th century by Vojdan Cernodrinski, Nikola Kirov - Majski and Atanas Razdolov. Then the development of Macedonian Literature continued with Koco Racin, who is considered to be the founder of modern Macedonian literature.
The first post-war generation of Macedonian poets, include Blaze Koneski, Aco Sopov, Slavko Janevski, Vlado Maleski and Kole Casule. The new generation of Macedonian writers appeared in the early 1950s, encompassing among others Gane Todorovski, Mateja Matevski, Dimitar Solev, Ante Popovski, Boris Visinski and Simon Drakul. They were followed by, Zivko Cingo, Petre M. Andreevski, Radovan Pavlovski, Jovan Koteski and many others.
Spero Thompson - THE VOICE OF HIS HAND (George Danevski master painter)
Introduction; The master artist sets down his paint brush and steps back, satisfied It is the last brushstroke of the millions that precede this final act of applying his trade. With a sense of resignation he lowers boxes of paints and brushes, adhesives, gold leaf protractors and compasses along with a stool and benches, from the top of the scaffolding to the ground. He climbs down, how many times has he ascended ...
Spero Thompson - MACEDONIAN GIRL…CANADIAN WOMAN (Sophie Rade Massin)
Robed Macedonian priest Swinging smoking censer, heavy incensed air Harmonic and familiar, two part Macedonian Orthodox funeral song. We are gathered to lie to rest Cousin Sophie Who lived well and lived long. Born in Oshchima, Macedonia Land of her Fathers Rich in history and Christian culture Leaving the Balkans to which turmoil relates. To Canada and a new life with promise This young girl and family did ...
Spero Thompson - ODE TO MACEDONIA
ODE; Literally, is a song, marked by exaltation of feeling, style, varying lengths of line and complexity of stanza form. Prologue I personify Macedonia as having a Body, Soul and Spirit Chorus The word Macedonia, when written is as a magnet to my eyes, drawing interest to the context in which it is written. The word Macedonia spoken is as music to my ears. It is as familiar as my own name. SONG OF THE BODY The body ...
Spero Thompson - GRANDMOTHER MACEDONIA
Dear Macedonia, land of mountains Land of villages You have known wars, occupations Bitter Church struggles and cultural pillages. Motherland of my Father And his Fathers before him By inheritance you are my Grandmother And in spirit we are kin. Though my eyes have never seen you Or my feet walked throughout your land I make this promise Baba Makedonija One day on your soil I will stand. My Father emigrated at ...
Spero Thompson - Macedonian Immigrant
Canada you are indeed a land and nation of immigrants Many people heard you call and they came. Macedonians left their beloved homeland Your hopes and opportunities to claim. You invited them; come Aegean, come Pirin, come Vardar Come you resilient and strong peoples. Leave Macedonia, as children will someday leave the home. Come have families, build homes, build businesses, build churches with their steeples. You ...
Spero Thompson - MACEDONIANA; OUR TREE OF LITERATURE
From our origin in the garden of Eden man has a close relationship with trees. In contemplation of our group of writers The Brothers Miladinov Macedonian Poetry Society it occurred to me that we are very much like a tree, a tree of Literature Like a tree we have four parts, roots, trunk, branches and leaves. Also as an expression of life we produce fruit ( our writings) As to our genus we are of the Macedonian Oak ...
Spero Thompson - SPOKEN TO IN MACEDONIAN ANSWERING IN ENGLISH
I consider myself fortunate in having had a happy childhood. I lived and grew up in the Regent Park area of Cabbagetown in the City of Toronto. In the 1940`s this area was heavily populated with immigrant Macedonian families. They liked to live in close proximity to St. Georges Macedonian Church located on the corner of Regent Street and Sutton Avenue. My Father was an immigrant from the village of Oshchima in ...
Spero Thompson - THIS MACEDONIAN SUN (The National Flag)
Seeking freedom, patriots rose and fell in the Ilinden uprising Turks holocaust two hundred villages, rampant revenge stalked the land. Unlikely allies, Bulgars, Greeks and Serbs drive out the Ottomans The partitioning of Macedonia, was their Balkan war prize demand. A night of gloomy darkness falls over Europe's power struggles Ilinden, Balkan, World and Civil wars, repeatedly Macedonia is overrun. Sunrise ...
Spero Thompson - ILINDEN (An Historical Inheritence)
Ilinden was the day chosen for the uprising of the people When, the Fathers of modern Macedonia With their brave compatriots Rose to throw off the Turkish yoke. Formed in the fire of revolution, self awareness as a nation Ilinden the forge, Macedonia the anvil, Freedom the hammer Macedonia for Macedonians was their rallying cry Of their resolve for independence, their martyrdom spoke. For a few historic days, the ...
Spero Thompson - RED EGG DAY IN CABBAGETOWN
Red Egg Day was the name given by the neighborhood boys for the observance of Easter Sunday by the local Macedonian Orthodox community. Our neighborhood was located in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto around Saint Georges Macedonian Church on Regent Street. I lived four doors east of the Church on Sutton Avenue. My Father was an immigrant from Macedonia and my Mother an Irish immigrant. I grew up enjoying both ...