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.
Patsy Sider - THE GREEK PEDAGOGY
That Macedonian girl was seven years old And attended the Fifth Public School of Florina-Lerin. At recess the teacher sent her at home to take some money For her to pay the tuition by installments. In the way, back to school the girl was late And she entered tiptoe the classroom. All of the sudden the teacher Grabbed her by the hair. With the thick stick, she hit the girl on the head. The girl felt dizziness. The ...
Patsy Sider - THE MACEDONIAN VILLAGER
I sing for the Macedonian Villager. I have a great respect for him. In his life, he suffered greatly from the Greek Authorities But he never lost faith to God. The time when I visited a Macedonian village I felt the presence of the Lord. The villager has faith in his heart His gift is the virtue. In the past, the villager was walking with his head bend down The reason the Greeks had underestimated him The Macedonian ...
Patsy Sider - MACEDONIAN HERITAGE
We were not familiar with the Macedonian Heritage The reason was, the Greeks Authorities hid it from us. In the Greek schools, we were taught the Greek language And they were accusing our language, the Macedonian language. They were insulting and physically abusing us, the Macedonians And they flooded our Macedonian land with the Greek refugees. They tore down the Macedonian churches And the Macedonians were sent to ...
Patsy Sider - THE CANADIAN CITIZENS, FROM FLORINA
The Canadian citizens, from Florina, who live in the free world of Canada The times when they visit my birthplace, the city of Florina-Lerin To my relatives and my acquaintances, for me personally, they say the following. "Shame on her, she hates the Greeks, she speaks the Macedonian language And she goes to Macedonian Church..." My heritage is Macedonian I do not see any shame to that The Macedonian language is one ...
Patsy Sider - FOR YOU MATHER, KONSTANTINA BOSSOTA
Christmas Day is a Saint Day Where the justice and the kindness conquers. This day commemorated the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the savior of the World, the Miraculous. Mother, you are a praiseworthy mother and a grandmother. You raised six children and five grandchildren. You faced the difficulties in life with bravery And you conquer them all. This poem is for you, mother With all my love and ...
Patsy Sider - MY BELOVED FATHER, AVRAAM BOSSOTAS (1908-1987)
It was painted on my father's face, the joy and the fear The times when he held the radio close to his ear. He was hearing Macedonian songs Prohibited by the Greeks, the Macedonian songs. The volume of the radio was too low Any lower could not go. He wondered, if the Greek policeman was outside of his home Hidden under the window, or the porch, for eavesdropping. Mother was shaking as a leaf. She was whispering to ...
Patsy Sider - THE MACEDONIAN PEOPLE
In 1913 the great powers divided us. They took away a part of our souls. O, Lord help us, reunited us The Macedonian Hymn all together to sing it. Macedonian people With all your strength run and run. The Bucharest Agreement will open soon The giant door of justice will creak With the love of God and united We should tell the world that this is a Macedonian land. This land is not Greek, neither, Bulgarian nor ...
Patsy Sider - MY HANDSOME MOUNTAIN
In Florina-Lerin where I grew up there is a mountain Therefore, I sing continuously for it. On it hundreds of birds voices sing And each May Day the youth sweet songs sing to it It seems like yesterday since I said farewell to you. In the foreign country, I did not forget you. Your image is in my memory Like the shades of the colorful dawn. My handsome mountain I love you very much. On your wild flowers, of daisies ...
Patsy Sider - MY NAME IS MACEDONIA
My birthplace is the village of Nevoliani, Aegean Macedonia My name is Macedonian and in our home, we speak the Macedonian language. My first day in school I will remember it as long as I live. At recess, I speak to my friend the Macedonian language. The teacher hears me that I do not speak the Greek language. The time when I enter the classroom I suffer the Jesus Christ sufferings. He says to me. "You an ...
Patsy Sider - DANNY STOITSEVSKY (1925-1988)
This poem is dedicated in loving memory of Danny Stoitsevski- Hatzystoitse (Hafzyioannou) An unforgettable Hero, from Florina-Lerin DANNY STOITSEVSKY (1925-1988) Patsy Sider-Aspassia Bossota In Florina-Lerin the terminally ill widow mother of Danny Stoitsevski Breathless was calling Danny, her son. Her last wish was this. Danny, her son, she wanted to see him, for the last time. Danny, previously, was resident of ...