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.
When I was a little boy An empty can was my favourite toy I would tie it on a homemade rope And drag it along the cobble stone road One morning as I woke up I found my can was stolen I told my father to hurry up As I heard my can rolling Now that I am seventy years old And I write this on my iPad I am thinking Who was that little boy This can’t be the same world
My first ride on a bus One summer day Off to camp we were Without any delay We were all skinny kids Full of ambition Ready for any blitz But all malnutrition We climbed the high mountain The air was so very fresh The camp had one big fountain And surrounded by wire mesh We ate four times a day Well prepared food Each had their own tray Life was going to be so good After a couple days We started ...
One hot summer day It was the month of July The grandchildren came to play Carrying all their supplies They all sat in each corner With their smart phone at hand I felt like a foreigner Trying to grasp and understand One was beeping from here The other was tweeting from there All the pleasing sounds I could hear Was all new music to my ear They would communicate with each other Without saying a ...
If I was a good shepherd And had a herd of sheep Protect them all and guide them The baby lambs I would keep I would carry them on my back So vulnerable and mighty Safe in the round coral No matter black or white Away from all butchers From villages and towns And the hungry smoochers Carnivores and clowns I watch them run around My green meadow field Protect from rabbits and hounds Inside my ...
The pillar of the home That is supposed to be the father That’s supporting the dome Like there is no other As the pillar gets old And cracks appear all over He is no longer bold Seeks help from the mother To hold the weight of the roof Takes both of them together They really need each other Now more than ever
Happiness is hearing the children play On a warm summer day And watch their twilight unfold So innocent and gay To see the happiness in their face Run tirelessly around No matter what colour or race They immediately all bound
Recently in a local bookstore, I opened a copy of Jack London’s collected stories. Glancing down the list of titles, I smiled in recognition of familiar readings from my boyhood. Coming upon the title The Sea Wolf I stopped, as memories of my Father and the arrogance of my youth came into my mind. Turning to chapter 24 in this particular story, I looked for that special word. My eyes went up and down the pages where ...
Macedonians of today are proud of their heritage Especially the role of women in keeping language alive During a violent century, it was the Macedonian speaking home That held together the Macedonians as a distinct people Who held the people together? She who was the preserver of the Macedonian language The teacher is honoured by the child`s first word “Majka” Words to infants are seeds planted, which grow to become ...
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 ...
Sunday mornings at the Cathedral of Saint Clement Ohrid The congregation gathers in the Church sanctuary There, traditional Byzantine frescoes on the ceiling and walls Depict the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus In whose memory the communion service is celebrated. Stand at the back, unobtrusively taking in the whole scene Inhale the wafting scent of incense and melting candles Observe the ...
