Browse Tagged “Village Life” from the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society archive, library and community collections.
Ten boys from Sklithro Were called by their homeland To go and defend The duty of the state. One would be an infantryman, Another a driver, A third would become a cook, And one a captain. All of them kept wondering; At night they could not sleep: “But what do I know about driving? I was born a farmer.” They became close friends, Together every evening — One night they felt sorrow, The next they ...
Before the carols came and the deep winter cold, we slaughtered the piglets in every courtyard. We made tzoumarinkes * and fresh fried meat, sharing a little portion with the whole neighborhood. And then the sausages — how wonderful they were! With leeks and fragrant herbs, with well-seasoned minced meat. We hung them out to dry on a wooden pole; our dog stood guard so others would not take them. ...
A bachelor who had grown old Returned back to his village; Half a century had passed In search of his own self. He stumbled over weary feet, Leaning on a long cane; His teeth were gone from years gone by, Yet he wore a handsome suit. He sat inside the coffeehouse And hardly spoke a word; He thought about the years long past, Hidden in a corner. The houses seemed so low to him, From centuries long ...
And old age fell heavily upon him Before he could even realize; And just before the break of dawn He set out again for the village. Fifty years he had been gone, He knew no one anymore; All the years he spent in America Had come to nothing at all. He found himself back in his village, alone, Not knowing what to do; “As I was born a poor man,” he said, “So poor I shall die.” One morning at the ...
Three sisters were growing up, Honest, modest, and fair; All the village admired them, The three always together. They were warned never to forget, If they wished to be well-spoken of, To guard their honour carefully So they might find worthy husbands. They owned a little humble house With a low small yard, A tiny patch of farmland And one small cow. The sisters grew into great beauties, The ...
It was the month of August, With rains and raging storms; Everyone hurried to their homes, Leaving their daily cares behind. The three rivers joined as one Near Saint Dimitrios’ shrine, Flooding everywhere and everything, Reaching close to Stasos’ house. We saw an old woman running, Barefoot through the rain; And though the downpour did not cease, She entered Stasos’ yard. Geraka came out alone ...
Many years have passed and we have grown white and old. Our beautiful village we have never forgotten it. Green village, my Zeleniche, you are not as you once were. Your face has changed so much while we were far away from you. We remember the evenings when the streets filled with children, and the old women on their stools sat together sharing gossip. Your stone-paved roads have now been covered ...
Last night I dreamed, and found myself back in the village. All the parents were there, all the ancestors and relatives. And our children were there, together with the grandchildren. We danced at rido hand in hand, like in the olden years. We all embraced each other with tears in our eyes. We remembered everything from before— the passions of the past. And two brothers over there, now turned into ...
The last time I went to the village, to say farewell to those I knew, and from my father’s worn inheritance to sell what little there was to do— Our small ancestral house, a barn now fallen and bare, a lowly yard enclosure too, built once with sweat and care. I walked down into the yard as if my throat had closed tight— it gripped me deep within, like drowning in heavy night. Bushes and thorns ...
Christmas as I remember Long long time ago Those cold days in December With fresh fallen snow The church bells would chime And echo throughout the village The sun rays would shine We felt we were so privileged I had my mother and father My two sisters and me Baba Kata our grandmother I felt like I was in my high We got no Christmas presents We had no Christmas tree We had each others presence ...
