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.
In the Macedonian villages of Aegean heartbreaking cries were reechoing. The Greek rebels from the mother's warm lap were grabbing the child. Innocent angels helpless with frightened souls We're asking each other "What will happen to us?" Without shoes, without food Frozen without their mother's tenderness Mountains, ravines explored without pause Mountains, ravines were leaving behind without a return. The ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
The mountain climber with his athletic beauty And his golden heart He is set out early in the morning For his morning walk towards the mountains. On his shoulders, he carries the green bag filled with food And a flask of refreshing water. Lassie, the dog runs lively. She is ahead of him. The uphill road Is too narrow and too tiring. A gentle wind caresses their faces And the birds are welcoming them in singing. ...
My Macedonian grandfather with the donkey filled with groceries From the market comes towards our house. Our house is located across the police station In the city of Florina-Lerin, which is a tiny city. The backyard of our home faces the magnificent mountain And the front-yard of our home faces the river that flows calmly. From afar when I see the grandfather I leave the games, and the boys To get for my ...
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 ...
